28 



The difference between Spring and Autumn Herring. 

 By J. T. Jenkins, D.Sc, Ph.D. 



(Lecturer in Biology, Hartley University College, Southamptoti). 



Ill all districts where a great herring fishery exists 

 there is evidence of two main spawning seasons, the one 

 being in the spring, the other in the autumn, and in the 

 present paper the terms " Spring-herring " and " Autumn- 

 herring " are respectively applied to herring Avhich spawn 

 in the spring or autumn. 



In the Irish Sea the herring fishery is relatively not of 

 great importance, and the movements of the shoals have 

 not been studied in detail. On the Lancashire coasts 

 their movements are very uncertain, but in the southern 

 portion of the district they are more regular. 



" The principal shoals visit North Wales in October 

 and November, some also early in May and June."* 

 Spawning probably takes place here in the autumn or 

 winter. The Isle of Man herring fishery is also carried 

 on in the autumn, commencing in June and lasting till 

 October. In the latter month spawning herring have 

 been taken off Douglas.! There seems to be little or no 

 evidence as to a spring spawning, but further information 

 on the subject is necessary. 



Considerable difference of opinion has existed as to 

 whether (1) these two groups of herring constitute differ- 

 ent races, and if this be granted, whether (2) such races 

 exhibit any morphological differences which are capable 

 of measurement. 



With regard to the first question, the separation of her- 

 ring into two distinct races, wliich spawn at different 



* Herdman & Dawson : Fishes and Fisheries of the Irish Sea, 

 p. 60. 



t Holdsworth : Deep Sea Fishing and Fishing Boats, p. 539. 

 London, 1874. 



