SUMMARY AND GENERAL REPORT. 



During tlie year ending 30tli June, 1918, in addition to 

 general work connected with the coastal fisheries, a series of 

 investigations were undertaken and are now reported upon. 



Samples of herring were obtained from Berwick, Sea Houses 

 and North Shields, altogether amounting to a total of 3,200 

 herring, and from the chart indicating the localities of capture 

 it will be seen that the district Avas fairly completely covered. 

 The samples again proved to be very similar in size and in age 

 composition, thus evidencing that the Northumberland herring 

 belong to one school. As in the previous season herrings with 

 four winter rings were predominant ; an interesting and note- 

 worthy feature. Up to 1915 our investigations showed that the 

 herring consisted for the most part of four year herring that is 

 with three winter rings ; in 1916 and 1917 the school has 

 presented a majority of five year old herring (with four winter 

 rings). It is fortunate that we have persevered with the herring 

 investigation at this time for it may turn out that the advance 

 in age composition is due to the restricted fishing. Reasons are 

 given for the conclusion that spawning took place in the northern 

 part of the district at the end of August and the beginning of 

 September. 



In 1918, as in 1917, the dry weather in the spring brought 

 the Tyne at Newcastle into a serious state of pollution. Many 

 kelts were poisoned, and in May the smolts, after hesitating 

 above the tidal region, were tempted by a slight amount of rain 

 to descend. Hundreds were killed opposite and below the gas 

 works. It is not suggested that the gas works alone are respon- 

 sible, nor that at present any particular effluent can be blamed. 

 A collective plan of reducing the pollution will have to be 

 adopted, but it cannot be urged that the present is a convenient 

 time for undertaking it. Still, even now, the managers of works 

 on the Tyne might be asked (and they have been asked by the 



