33 



In every respect the second group of spring herring is 

 more like the autumn herring group than it is like the 

 first group of spring herring. 



That this discrepancy actually occurs in Heiucke's work 

 m.ay be seen on reference to the following table : — 



* op. cit. Tab. u. Taf, p. 123. 

 t „ „ 149. 



t „ „ 156. 



From this it appears that the spring herring from 

 Stralsund resemble the autumn herring of the Gothland 

 Bank much more than they do another group of spring 

 herring from the Dollart, and the difference between the 

 two groups of spring herring is nowhere more marked 

 than where the formulae are similar, that is, in the case 

 of the distance of the ventral fin. It would have been far 

 better to have employed, instead of an arbitrary formula, 

 either the averages themselves or to have eft'ected a 

 comparison by means of curves based on these averages. 



Then it would be possible to form a true conception of 

 the actual relationship of the various groups of herring 

 which Heincke investigated, which is practically 

 impossible under present conditions. 



But it is. even more correct to take the individual 

 herring since Heincke himself writes (1. c. p. LYII.) : — ■ 

 C 



