21 



net ill 1914, and the percentage of herrings with two winter rings 

 was 26-8 per cent.* 



It would appear then that not only are the herrings of the 

 Northumberland Coast shoal young fish, but that they come to 

 this locality after the formation of the third winter ring, return 

 the following year if not captured, and then leave the district, 

 few^ returning after the formation of the fifth winter ring. Where 

 they come from cannot be stated, but an attempt will be made later 

 to show the probable migrations of the fish after leaving the North- 

 umberland coast. 



The samples of 1916 give further information respecting the 

 herrings with three and four winter rings, and show a distribution 

 of year classes along the coast influenced by locality and time. 

 From the Fame Islands to the southern portion of the Durham 

 coast, slightly north of the mouth of the Tees, the herrings with 

 three winter rings during June and the beginning of July were 

 more abundant, and the age composition of the samples was lower 

 than that of the samples caught to the north and south of this 

 area. 



Localities from whence the samples of 1916 came are shown 

 on Chart I., page 33. 



Samples 1, Bl and B2 were taken 6th June, 30th June and 

 1st July respectively. They were caught south of the Fame 

 Islands, and represent the herrings from the northern portion 

 of the area under consideration. The age composition of these 

 samples was as follows : — 



0-8 



The southern portion of the area furnished samples 2 and 3, 

 caught 6th and 7th Juty respectively. They had the following 

 age composition, which differs little from that of the samples 

 from the northern portion of the area. 



* Report. New SerieS; IV. pp 17 and 2i; 



