of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 317 
The next collection of small herrings from Aberdeen Bay was on 24th 
April, in another year. They numbered 157, and ranged in size from 
41-46mm. (13-142 inches)—the modal size, the mean size (calculated on 
the base-line of the curve) and the arithmetical average, all agreeing at 
43‘5mm., or 1? inches. 
These herrings are clearly not those from the previous spring series, 
but from the preceding autumn, and they are approximately seven or 
eight months old. 
Small herrings were also obtained in June in Aberdeen Bay in two 
separate years. In 1900 a shoal appeared in the Bay of Nigg, apparently 
driven in by coal-fish (of which a large number were got in the salmon 
stake-nets) ; fifteen of these, taken on the 19th, were measured by Dr. 
Scott, who determined the contents of the stomach.* They ranged 
between 5:5cm. and 6:5cm. (23-2,% inches), the mean length being about 
60mm., or 23 inches; but it is, of course, quite uncertain if they were 
representative of the shoal. 
Two of the herrings belonging to the shoal were placed by me ina 
large glass carboy, containing about 18 gallons of water, and a circulation 
maintained. These herrings were not attempted to be measured until 
15th August, when one was found to be approximately 73mm. (2% 
inches) and the other 83mm. (33 inches) ; they were placed in a narrow 
tube full of sea-water while being measured. On the 28th September 
another attempt was made to measure them, and one was found to be 
83mm. (3 inches) ; but it showed such signs of collapse that I refrained 
from measuring the other herring, and both of them were lost some time 
afterwards. 
If their size was about 60mm. on the 19th June, the indicated growth 
in the two months would be approximately 13-23mm, (4-14 inch), and 
the growth of one of them, assuming it to be the smaller measured in 
August, from the latter period to 28th September would amount to 
10mm. for the 44 days. These data are obviously slender and uncertain. 
At all events, the remark was a common one at the time, that the herrings 
were growing very slowly.T 
In June of another year a series was represented by 24 specimens, 
measuring from 50mm. to 60mm. (2-23 inches), the modal size being 
55mm., and the arithmetic average 55°8mm. (2,3, inches), 
On 18th October, in a large collection, there was one measuring 85mm. 
(3g inches), the next, part of a large group, measuring 96mm. The 
former was certainly in its second year. 
Turning now to the collections of small herrings from other parts of 
the coast, we find corresponding series. 
In the Dornoch Firth, on 21st October, 28 post-larval herrings were 
taken in a tow-net. They measured from 14mm. to 20mm., the modal 
size and the mean being 17mm., and the arithmetical average 16-°8mm. 
te inch). These were from the autumn spawning. 
On 11th November, 48 were caught in a tow-net, which ranged in size 
from 13mm. to 25mm., the mode and the mean being 19mm., and the 
arithmetic average 18°6mm. (? inch). On 13th November, in the same 
year, 156 were caught in tow-nets, measuring from 13mm. to 26mm. 
(4 to slightly over 1 inch); the modal size was 20mm., the mean 
194mm., and the average 195mm. (? inch). On 26th December, in the 
same year, the series is, perhaps, represented by 51 specimens, measuring 
* See Twentieth Annual Report, Part III., p. 530. 
+A small rockling kept in the same vessel, lurking among stones and weed at the 
bottom, offered a striking contrast to the herrings. On 15th August it measured 57mm., 
on 28th September 89mm., and on 14th November 97mm, It was fed with mussels. On 
the other hand, the growth of the common pipe-fish (Syngnathus acus) was very slow. 
