23 



From the middle of the area sample 4 was obtained on 16th 

 August, and had an age composition as follows : — 



Winter Rings. 

 2 3 4 5 6 6 + 



Sample 4 ... — IM 54-3 30-2 3-5 0-5 



The general opinion of the older fishermen of our coast who 

 fished the shoals of full herring in August and September some 

 twent}^ years ago is that the herrings came from the north-east. 

 The samples of 1916 taken in the latter part of Juty, August and 

 the beginning of September are of interest in this connexion when 

 arranged as below according to the position of capture : — 



From the northern portion of the area 



From the middle of the area 



From the southern portion of the area 



The samples of 1917 do not. admit of the same comparative 

 examination owing to the time and place of their capture. But 

 they also show" that herrings with three winter rings were more 

 abundant in July, and that herrings with five winter rings became 

 more prominent in August.* More samples Avere taken during 

 September in 1917, and they indicate a decrease in the beginning 

 of the month of fish with five winter rings. t 



The immigration of fish with four and five winter rings in 

 1916 and to some extent in 1917 is in marked contrast to the 

 findings of previous years, when no such phenomenon was observed. 

 The only factor or the chief factor which can account for this 

 change is the restricted fishing. 



In 1914t there was evidence that within the area from the 

 Fames to the Tees there w^as a smaller area stretching from the 

 Coquet to Seaham in which segregation took place according to 

 age. From the central portion of this smaller area the samples 

 yielded more of the younger herring than did those from the 

 northern and southern portions, where herrings with three winter 



* Report, Xew Series, VII. t I^id. 



t Report, Xew Scries, IV., page 22, 



