9 



in Table II. in the form in which they have been presented in 

 previous reports. The results are presented graphically in Chart 

 2, which will be found to be interesting when compared with 

 the chart published in the preceding report and the figures for 

 past years. This year, as last year, the herrings with four winter 

 rings were found to be predominant. The change which we 

 recorded for 1916 in the age composition for the district is con- 

 tinued therefore in 1917. The shoals do not undergo a great 

 deal of change during the season, but it will be noted that herrings 

 with three winter rings were more common at the beginning of 

 the season, especially in the southern part of the district, that 

 these gave place to herrings with four winter rings which then 

 characterised the district generalh^, and that in August in the 

 northern part of the district herrings with five vdnter rings, 

 together with still older stages became prominent. The older 

 herring appear to have remained until early in Septeml^er, after 

 which period the shoals were found to consist of the same class 

 of herring as were obtained in July. These general features will 

 be found to be very similar to those which resulted from the 

 investigation of the herring of 1916. 



The change in the age- composition during the last two seasons 

 is an interesting and significant feature, which may be and pro 

 bably is associated with the pi'esent condition of the fishing. 



