78 J. H. ORTON. 
made to analyse the fin rays in the dorsal and anal fins. The analysis of 
the vertebrz in this sample is the same as in the larger Samples III and 
IV (see pp. 80 and 82). 
Sample III. 
This was a sample of 550 fish examined from a catch of 22 cran, Le. 
about 20,000 herrings. The fish were caught in herring drift nets by the 
steam-drifter Diadem, Lowestoft, near Bigbury Bay, with Start Point 
bearing about E. by N. 6 miles. The sample was taken at random from 
the catch, and consisted of fish of various sizes, but mostly in a condition 
approaching ripeness. Fish which were damaged were not investigated ; 
otherwise there was no selection. 
In the circumstances under which the research was carried out it was 
possible to examine only 250 fish in measurements, weight and condition 
of gonad on the first day, that is within 12 hours of the landing of the 
fish. The fish not examined the first day were kept in ice, and were 
found to be in excellent preservation on the second day, when the re- 
mainder of the sample, namely 300 fish, was examined for measurements, 
weight and condition of gonad. The whole sample was examined within 
35 hours of the landing of the fish, and a record of time was taken as the 
examination of each lot of 50 fish was completed. These records are given 
with those for Sample IV in tabular form on page 79. 
Sample LV. 
In this sample 525 fish out of a catch of 56 cran, i.e. about 50,500 
herrings, were examined. The catch was taken by the steam-drifter 
G.M.V. 1062, Lowestoft, in herring drift nets near Bigbury Bay, between 
a region 8 miles W.S.W. of Start Point and a position about 3 miles 
S.S.W. of Start Pomt. The fish were caught during the night of January 
5-6, 1915, and landed about 10 a.m., January 6. Work was begun on 
the sample during the same morning, and 300 fish examined for weight, 
measurements and condition of gonad in the course of the day. The 
completion of the examination of the whole sample was effected within 
334 hours of the landing of the fish. 
The fish were mostly in a condition almost ready for spawning, some 
few being spent. In this sample there were a good many damaged fish, 
and to obtain 525 fish from a sample of 600 it was necessary to reject 
about 40 to 50 fish, most of which were too badly damaged about the 
head to be measured. The damage to these specimens had undoubtedly 
chiefly occurred in unmeshing them. No selection of specimens occurred 
other than that of damaged ones. 
The times at which successive batches were examined for weight, 
