20 



cent, over 26 cm. in length, whereas in 1914 there was approxi- 

 mately 38 per cent, above this size, and in 1913 about 46 per cent. 

 This decrease in the number of large fish caught is probably due 

 to the heavy fishing to which the shoal has been subjected since 

 1911. 



The variations in size will be seen from the particulars given 

 below, and these may be compared with the tables given in 

 the Reports, New Series, III. and IV. 



Centdietres. 



Age. — The predominant year group of the Northumberland 

 coast herring, sample 1, was that with three winter rings. 



The two samples of Yorkshire coast trawled herring also 

 contained a large number of fish with, three winter rings, but had 

 more older herrings than the sample from the Northumberland 

 coast. 



The age composition of the samples was as follows ; — 



The number of fish with six winter rings in samples 2 and 3 

 is of interest as representing what remained in 1915 of the pre- 

 dominant year class in 1913, and which yielded in 1914 about 

 29 x^er cent, of the fish in the samples examined. 



In 1913 and 1914, the age composition, in percentages, of York- 

 shire coast trawled herring was as follows, and the average of the 



