322 Part ITT —Twenty-fourth Annual Report 
‘Spring. Autumn. 
M. ied 8 M. | Dal ex 
Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm. 
February, : ot aioe rs se! 
March, : : 5-11] 7-11 
April, . : 5 5-16 6-17 
May, . : : 5-25 7°5-24 
June, . : 13-20 15-26 
July, . ; Bridal Come 16. a St 
August, } : [11-20] ue 5-12 6-14 
September, . : 36-44 21-44 4-18 6-18 
October, . 32-41 32 6-23 8-25 
November, . : a “A 14-26 12-29 
December, . aes [37] 39-50 15-[37] | 14-34, 36 
January, . . | 42-56 Le At 27 
February, . 4] 45-69 35-37 31, 32 
March, | 44 (63)-(89) 26-40 a 
April, . siguit et (45)-(82) 32-49 41-46 
May, ~a | (fi 50-63 
In the Fourth Annual Report of the Wishery Board for Scotleond Mr. Duncan 
Matthews described the young herrings found in various samples of whitebait from the 
Thames. His results may he thus summarised, the words in brackets indicating my 
interpretation of the derivation of the herrings, which thus differs from that of Cunning- 
ham, who dealt with the same observations of Matthews (18, p. 162). 
Number 
Month. Herrirgs Remarks. 
Examined. 
—— | |i — - —— — = = 
February, : 98 Some under 2 inches (50mm.) and only partially scaled 
(probably spring-herrings of previous year). 
Marcha amen 60 Some reached nearly 4 inches (102mm.) (autumn 
herrings in third year). 
April, . : 112 14 under 1% inches (38mm.) (autumn herrings of 
previous year). 
May, : ; 180 72 were 2 inches (50mm.) fully scaled (autumn 
herring) and 108 from 14-13 inches (88mm,-44mm. ) 
and only partly scaled (autumn herrings). : 
June, ; Z 696 417 fully sealed, 2-24 inches (50mm.-57mm.) (autumn), 
279, from 1 to 14 inches (25mm.-38mm.) partially 
sealed, or entirely scaleless (spring herrings of year, 
but possibly two series). 
July, : : 450 14-25 inches (88mm.-63mm.), of these, 360 under 2 
inches (50mm.) (probably two series—spring and 
autumn). 
August, . : 260 2-3 inches (50mm.—76mm.) (autumn). 
The usual difficulties involved in measurements in fractions of an inch, and slumping, 
is encountered here, though in most cases the derivation of the series seems clear. To 
suppose that herrings of 63 or 55mm. in July, were derived from the spawning in the 
previous spring would be contrary to the facts referring to the Scottish collections. The 
spawning-seasons may differ to some extent off the mouth of the Thames. 
The observations of Hoek on the small herring in the Zuiderzee (14), previously 
referred to, would be valuable for comparison, but it is clear that different series have 
been included together in some of the groups. A summary of his measurements, in 
millimetres, is as follows:—February, 73-100, most between 88 and 95: March, 49-75, 
70-78, 83-114, 77-100, most between 85-95, 67-106: April, 67-102, ‘‘most part about 
80”; afew days later, ‘‘most of them 75,” a few about 90: May, many about 90, four 
55: June (29th). a few 37: July, 37-42, 57-60, 75, 80, 98: August, 56-81, 60-68, and on 
31st, 40-50, 60-70: September, 58-75, 76-83, 65-95 : October, 81-90, 65-80: November, 
one 75, many 85-90, 100-112'5 : Decernber, many 80-100. 
