320 Part IIL. _—Twenty-fourth Annual Report 
Date. | Depth. Herrings. 
| Ems. 
| 21st February 1890 . | 24-27 1 at 4 (100). 
17th a Aeon ee ne 12, 34-5 (90-127). 
| 20th yn 5 : 1]—14 os 4h-5 (115-127) 5 2; 3 (76 
| 6th . 1892 . 5 240, 13-34 (45-69). 
19th March 1890 : 20-27 21, 4-54 (102-140). 
19bhnes eae: . | 18428 | 2, (44-54- (115-140) 
| 2ist Ye ae ‘ 94-14 29, 4-5 (102-127); 2, 34 (89). 
ine eek AR ee 4 l02). 
22 rides fe : 5-6 5, 44-55 (115-140); 158, 24-34 (63-89). 
22nd ees es : 4-6 11, 44-54 (115-133)' 169, 24-34 (63-89). | 
2nd ,, 3-4 16, 4-44 (102-115); 14, 3-34 (76-89). 
20th April 1892. : 7-8 316, 13-34 (45-82). 
26th wi 31890... re 4 767, 2-34 (50-90); 1, 54 (140) 
28 thie. ane : 18-20 6, 4-5 (102-127). 
718 nena ak as aoe 17 1, 54 (140); 8, 5 (127); 15, 23-4 
(70-102). 
|P20thie;, fie : 6-15 37, 6 (150); 219, 34-4 (90-102); 786, 
| 13-3 (45-76). 
29 thie ee Nes F 8-10 6, 3-34 (76-89) 
| 9th May 1889 . : 4 Vy 7 (E77) 3 1245 4259 (102-127) eee 
(76); 24, 24 (63); 30, 2 (50). 
TOES ee: een Giolla AS 76): 
De oy oe ee er ; 11-12 l,. 7 (liz); 1, (64 (165); 935) 4 ess 
Htthioycet thas 15 1, 44 (115). 
15th. saan aieetle 5 3, 2k (63). | 
ohne <, L890 +. 9 6, 4% (115) 
Sthteceates 5-9 De 4s (102): 
9th ie 20 1 5} (O27 
5th August. 1891 sail 6 3, 32 (95). | 
3rd September 1859. | 5 118, 24-34 (63-89) | 
| 4th e Se okehea| 15 Le (2G): 
| 4th 5 Ae 29 By 3h (Was 
| 36h ¢ oe 5 14, 2-21 (50-63). 
| Sth pe i 6 2294, 23-34 (63-89) 
12th - i 26 Li; 3) i(76): 
13th i 92 Le 3 G6)=> 21 250). 
5th October 1889 5 85 jo C16); 
Long ‘G5 her ee 5 2, 44 (115); 4, 34 (89); 9, 3 (76). | 
10th +, ce bvi 12 | 22, 4-44 (102-115). | 
16th : 12 | 2, 34 (89). | 
9th December 1892 .| 13-15 | 6, 34-4 (89-102). | 
10th a highs 11-14 | 3, 44-5 (115-127) 
At least three annual series of herrings are represented in these Forth 
collections. From what has been said above as to the slow growth of 
the post-larval herring, it is clear that none of them belong to the year 
in which they were caught, but that the smallest of them are in their 
second year. 
The measurements in fractions of an inch, and the slumping of lots 
together, are less accurate than the separate measurements in milli- 
metres, and two separate series may be mixed up together, but it 
appears, on the whole, probable that the smaller herrings in spring 
represent the spring herrings and not the autumn fish. In February, 
March, and April their sizes range from about 45mm. to about 89mm. 
or 90mm.; the smaller sizes would suit well enough the supposition 
that they were autumn herrings, but the larger are much too large for 
that class at that time of year, and if they are all regarded as belonging 
to one group, the group must be looked upon as spring fish nearing one 
year of age, though the larger sizes are too large for this interpretation. 
This must be said, on the balance of evidence, even regarding the large 
