10 



seen on Chart 1, nearer the shore than any of the other samples. 

 The number of fish with two winter rings is -small, the highest 

 percentage being found in sample A2, which came from the most 

 northerly localit}^ of the Northumberland coast. This sample 

 was taken 2nd August, and contained the smallest percentage of 

 fish with four and five winter rings, and was made up of much 

 smaller fish than any of the other samples. 



Last season herrings with four winter rings were found to be 

 predominant, but this year fish of that age are not so abundant 

 as those a year younger, and comprise only from twenty to 

 thirty per cent, of the samples. In no sample were herrings with 

 five winter rings so plentiful as to form twenty per cent, of the 

 sample, and older herrings were few in number. 



As in previous years, the herrings of the Northumberland 

 coast have been found to belong to a shoal or shoals of young 

 fish varying in age somewhat, but having iew individuals with 

 five or more winter rings shown on their scales. During the 

 seasons of 1916 and 1917, herring with four winter rings were 

 predominant, but the shoals of last season were younger by 

 approximately one year. 



The only sample which resembles the samples of 1917 is 

 sample 1, but the age composition of the other samples makes it 

 quite clear that this sample cannot be taken as representative 

 of the shoals found off our coast during 1918. 



The conditions under which the investigations were conducted 

 did not allow of detailed examination as to sex and maturity, 

 but general notes were made as to the condition of the gonads. 

 Sample A2 consisted of small fish, and the majority had gonads 

 at stage II. or between stages I. and II. In no case were gonads 

 found developed as far as stage IV., not even towards the end of 

 August, at which time there seemed to be little difference between 

 the herrings then examined and some of those examined in July. 

 Curers generally complained throughout the season of the soft 

 and oily nature of the herrings with Avhich they were dealing. 

 Only one landing is known of, 29th July, which was described by 

 the curers as consisting of good large fish, firm and maturing. 



