BATE OP GROWTH OF SOME SEA FISHES. 237 



have observed the evidence of this in ripe and spent herrings brought 

 to market almost every year, but paid particular attention to it in 

 1888 and 1889. In 1888 I found the spawning continued to the 

 middle of March, and on April 9th, 1891, I examined six ripe 

 herring taken eight miles off Dodman Point in Cornwall, and sent 

 to the Laboratory by Mr. Dunn. In these last specimens the ovaries 

 were burst and the eggs dead in the body-cavity. Mr. Dunn 

 thought that the oviducts were obstructed, and that the eggs had 

 died during the life of the fish, but the condition observed might 

 have been merely due to rough handling at capture. In any case 

 this is an indication that some herrings are spawning on the south- 

 west coast in April, and others may be spawning in May. On the 

 other hand, I have met with no indication whatever that there are 

 any herrings spawning on our south-west coast in autumn, I can 

 only conclude that the herrings above mentioned taken in May were 

 about one year old, though the smallest, 11 cm. long, are smaller 

 than the smallest found by Meyer to be one year old. 



In September and October 1890, Professor Weldon measured a 

 number of herring brought to the Laboratory, and taken in seines 

 in the Cattewater and Hamoaze. The total leno-ths were — 



From Cattewater in September, twenty-three specimens measured 

 17-5 to 21-8 cm. (6-9 to 8-6 inches). 



From Hamoaze on October 10th, eleven specimens measured 19*4 

 to 27-7 cm. (7-6 to 10-9 inches). 



From Hamoaze October 14th, thirty-two specimens measured 12'8 

 to 21-8 cm. (5-0 to 8-6 inches). 



There is here a great range in size ; it is possible that the 

 smallest, those 5 inches long, were only nine months old, having been 

 hatched in the preceding January, and that the largest, about 26 or 

 27 cm. long, w^ere in their third year. But I think it is almost 

 certain that the majority, ranging from 19 to 23 cm. in length, were 

 one and three quarter years old, and would complete their two years 

 in the following spawning season, January to March. 



These herrings taken in Hamoaze and Cattewater are locally 

 known as habour herring ; but adult herrings of a considerable 

 range in size occur in great abundance in Plymouth Sound every 

 autumn and winter, though they always leave the Sound for the 

 open coast before spawning. I see no reason at present to suppose 

 that the herring which ascend the estuaries are of a different race 

 from those which remain in the Sound, although perhaps the 

 younger individuals penetrate further into brackish water than the 

 older. 



It is of considerable interest to study the records published in 

 the Reports of the Scottish Fishery Board of young herring taken in 



