326 Part III.—Twenty-fourth Annual Report 
These herrings, as the other collections and measurements show, are 
in their third summer, and are spring herrings a little over two years 
of age. 
To this series also belong nine herrings taken by the Garland on 16th 
May, measuring from about 9cm. to 12cm. 
In July in the same year a small collection of herrings was secured. 
There were only eight of them, ranging in size from 109mm. to 137mm., 
the mean being 123mm. and the average 125'4mm. (415 inches). 
In Aberdeen Bay some large collections of herrings at a corresponding 
stage were obtained. On Octobér 18th they numbered 444. There was 
one at 85mm. (33 inches), the next being 96mm., and the group to 
which the latter belonged extended to about 141mm. It contained 429 
herrings, the modal size of which was 115mm., the mean was also 
115mm. (43 inches), and the average was 117:5mm., or 43 inches. These 
herrings were thus of almost the exact size of the group caught in the 
Forth in May, and may be referred to the autumn series, somewhat over 
two years old. The group might terminate ata slightly smaller size 
than that indicated, e.g.,137mm.; on the other hand, there were five 
herrings measuring 143mm. to 145mm., three from 151mm. to 154mm., 
and one at 164mm. It is possible that the first five belong to the 
group, but the balance of evidence is against the supposition ; in any 
case, the mode and average would not be appreciably affected. All the 
herrings referred to probably belong to a group, extending in this case 
from 143mm. to 187mm. 
Another large collection obtained on 31st October, but in the previous 
year, was made up of younger herrings. Thecurve of tne measurements 
(see Plate XVIT.) is slightly irregular, there being a small depression at 
about 7-5cem., and two slight cusps at 7em. and 8em. Consideration of 
other cases shows that the group extends to about 9°5cem., and is really 
one. The 650 herrings contained in it extend from 52mm. to about 
95mm. (2,'; to 32 inches); the chief mode is at 8cm. (32 inches), the 
mean at 73mm, (23 inches), and the average at 77:‘8mm., or 3,); inches. 
These herrings are obviously those of the year before, and autumn 
herrings, so that they would be about 13 to 15 months did. The 
difference between this group and the group of the 18th (in the following 
year), both of which are supposed to be autumn herrings, is, on the 
modes 35mm., on the means 42mm., and on the averages as computed 
39'7mm., the mean of the three being 38°9mm. (1,°, inches). The mode, 
as we have seen, is not regular in the collection of 31st, and is better at 
7‘dem., which would make the difference 409mm. and the mean of the 
three comparisons 40°6mm., or 13 inches, representing a year’s growth. 
The next group consisted of 179 herrings from about 96mm. to 
143mm., but the larger individuals are not well represented. They 
appear to belong to the corresponding group so well shown in the 
collection of 18th October. There was a single herring at 157mm. 
On November 6th and 9th, in three different years (1900, 1901, 1993) 
small collections were obtained, which may be combined and sum- 
marised. Seven measured from 75mm. to 100mm., the computed 
average being 87'7mm. (3,% inches); 48 ranged from 102mm. to 143mm. 
(4 to 53 inches), the computed average being 125mm. (41% inches). 
There were also two herrings 185mm. and 188mm. 
On 12th December, six herrings measured from 97mm. to 124mm. (342 
to 43 inches), the mean size being 110°5mm. and the average 109'3mm. 
On 19th December, six, measuring from 78mm. to 95mm. were 
caught, the average size being 90'5mm., or 3,%, inches; there were also 
five ranging from 110mm. to 13lmm., the average being 120mm., or 
4? inches. 
