An Account of the Researches on Races of Herrings 
Carried out by the Marine Biological Association at 
Plymouth, 1914-15. 
By 
J. H. Orton, D.Sc., 
Naturalist at the Plymouth Laboratory. 
With Figs. 1 to 6 in the Text. 
CONTENTS. Pee 
Investigations made 72 
The characters studied 72 
Method of work : : : : F eee 74 
Ist Series of operations : weighing, measuring, recording gonad 75 
2nd Series of operations : counting : 75 
3rd Series of operations : preparing skeletons 75 
Distribution of work among the workers 76 
Description of the working of the separate samples 77 
Sample I Ua 
Sample II . i 
Sample IIT. 78 
Sample IV . 78 
Explanation of Records 4 C jeamaerers la nae 1b i in Samos Il andl IIT 19 
Explanation of Records of Characters 13, 14, and 17 in Sample III and Character 
17 in Sample IT , ‘ : syle: 
Explanation of Records of @haraeters 13, 14, aul 17 i in Sannale Iv : ‘ = ol 
Explanation of Records of Character 18 in Samples II, III, and IV. : 82 
Explanation of Records of Characters 1 to 9, 11, 12, 15, and 16 in Samples Iii and IV 82 
Definition of Character 7 : : F E F : . ; i 3) 683 
Accuracy of measurements 3 : . . 84 
Remarks on Additional Characters to mote eed: by ane Board : 5. athe 
Tables I to IV : 3 é : 3 : : : : : : ae exe 
Appendix to Tables , : 2 : : P : : : : ap PLS 
[The following Tables record the measurement and enumeration of a 
number of characters in certain samples of Herrings taken in the neigh- 
bourhood of Plymouth. The work was carried out as part of a general 
scheme for studying the question of the existence of local races of herrings 
around the British Coasts, which was organised by the Board of Agri- 
culture and Fisheries. In consequence of the war there is no immediate 
prospect of the figures being analysed and compared with similar figures 
relating to fish obtained in other localities. It has therefore been thought 
