48 
The Girvan samples, taken 9th February and 2nd March, 
were much alike, the size ranging principally from 26 to 28 em., 
and the largest number were under 27 cm. As will be seen on page 
29, they were for the most part fish with five winter rings. 
All the Irish samples are worth considering, as this is the first 
year that any quantity of Irish herrings has been examined. Size 
for age data are given for all the samples. 
Sample I. from Ardglass, 28th June, had most fish at 22 and 
23 cm. The second sample from 25 miles S.E. by 8S. of Ardglass, 
6th August, contained larger fish; the majority of them were 
from 26 to 28 em. long. The age composition of these samples 
will be found on page 29, and it will be seen that the August samples 
contained older fish than that of June, and fewer fish with two 
and three winter rings. This difference in age does not account 
fully for the difference in size. Fish with three and four winter 
rings in the August sample were larger fish than those of similar 
age in the June sample. 
CENTIMETRES, 
Winter 
Station. Date. é 21 29 93) (24 (25) 262i O tele 
Rings. 
Ardglass I. Ban etsy Aarpeall mag 2 6 28) 35) 1 16) 4 101 
Ardglass IT. tan. (ay hsy Mal 30— — 2 A DAS 2 eal 0) eee 69 
Ardglass I. ee 28 / GO) 20 eee LSS 1 2) 16a isi 12 
Ardglass IT. ... 6/8/21 4 — — — — 2» $5.30 8 55 
Only one sample was examined from Kilkeel, and that was 
taken 22nd October from 1 mile south of Kilkeel harbour. In 
size and age it resembled sample I. from Ardglass. Most of the 
fish were from 22 to 25 em, long, but the numbers at 24 and 
25 cm. were greater than in the Ardglass sample of June. This 
difference was caused by the size of the fish with two and three 
winter rings in the Kilkeel sample, but it is most obvious for the 
younger year-class. The data for the size of fish with two winter 
rings are as follows :— 
CENTIMETRES. 
Station. Date, Winter oy 91 32 93 24 25 Total, 
Rings. 
Ardglass I 28/6/20 4.) | 2 ioe 72 
Kilkeel ... ... 22/10/21 2 1° 5 feo 130 23. Me fae 
The Kilkeel sample was composed of spawning fish, and the 
June Ardglass sample was one of déveloping fish and virgins. 
