19 



AGE co:\rposTTiox or xorthumberland coast herrings. 



WlNTKR RlXC.:^. 



11 



— 0-3 — 



For purposes of comparison the catches of herring landed at 

 Northumberland jDorts are he/e given, the figures being derived 

 from the reports of the fishery officers to the Northumberland 

 Sea Fisheries Committee, and obtained from Government 

 returns : — 



Quantities of trawled herrings were landed at North Shields 

 as follows :— 1911, 22,000 cwts. ; 1912, 20,000 cwts. ; 1913, 

 59,000 cwts. 



The change in the age composition of the shoals in 1916 follow- 

 ing the restrictions of 1915 was so marked that there seems little 

 doubt that the age composition of the shopJs was influenced by 

 the restricted fishing. 



The shoals in 1916 were practically a year older, and con- 

 tained, according to the samples examined, 45 per cent, of fish 

 with four winter rings. An increase in the number of fish with 

 five winter rings was also present, and the percentage of these 

 fish, 21, was higher than in any previous year. Older herrings 

 were few in number, the greater part of them, 5 per cent., having 

 six winter rings. In the following year, 1917, the shoals were 

 practically of the same age as in 1916, 49 per cent, of the herrings 

 had four winter rings and 17 per cent, had five winter rings. 

 Drift net fishing in 1916 was greater than in 1915, but far from 

 normal, and it cannot be said to be sufficient to account for the 

 predominant year class of 1916, herrings with four winter rings, 

 being represented in 1917 by 17 per cent, only of herrings with 



