[31] SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION OF THE GERMAN SEAS. 



Herring. 



555 



Containing mature spawn. 



18S0. 1 

 1881. £ 

 18S2. j 



1883. | 



1884. J 

 1S85. i 

 188G. 5 



1887. I 



1888. I 



1889. $ 



First 

 Last 

 First 

 Last 

 First 

 Last 

 First 

 Last 

 First 

 Last 

 First 

 Last 

 First 

 Last 

 First 

 Last 

 First 

 Last 

 First 

 Last 



Empty. 



First 

 First 

 First 

 First 

 First 

 First 

 First 

 First 

 First 

 First 



Place where the mature 

 fish is caught. 



Remarks on the weather. 



The fisherman who keeps accounts, and whom we will designate as 

 the " bookkeeper," will have to inquire when fish containing mature spawn 

 were caught first and when last, understanding thereby fish with flowing 

 spawn. The date when such fish are caught is to be entered on the 

 book, as well as the place where they were caught, and the date when 

 the first empty fish were caught. Some remarks on the weather, as far 

 as, in his opinion, it has had any influence on the spawning season, should 

 be added. To do this involves so little trouble and expense that it is to 

 be hoped that such books will soon be kept in inauy fishing stations. 



It is, of course, to be expected that objections will be raised. Some 

 will say: u Such and such fish do not spawn in our waters; we can, 

 therefore, make no observations regarding them, and consequently we 

 cannot keep such a book." Others again will say : " What is the use of 

 putting down all this. ' We know most of what is going to be entered on 

 the book, and new things, such as where the fish-eggs are lying, where 

 the young fry stay, on what they live, &c, are not to be entered ; these 

 things the learned people should find out for themselves." The conse- 

 quence will be that no book will be kept ; in fact, no matter what objec- 

 tions are raised, the result in all cases will be the same, namely, that noth- 

 ing will be done ! 



The only answer to all these objections is simply that some time or 

 other a beginning must be made, for it is time that some attention be 

 paid to the increase of fish, and not merely to the increase of fishing 

 apparatus. When measures shall have been taken for increasing and 

 protecting the fish on our coasts, and such measures will undoubtedly be 

 inaugurated at no distant period, it will make a great difference whether 

 fishermen are able to pronounce an opinion on this subject, and can 

 corroborate their assertions by written statements from their books, or 

 whether they know nothing about it. If they can pronounce an opinion 

 they will be heard, and the most correct and suitable measures will be 

 selected and carried out. If, on the other hand, they cannot prove their 



