650 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



On tlie southern coast of Boliuslan A. W. Malm made observations during 

 April, 185G, which showed that it took the spring-herrings spawning in 

 that region about 24 days for the development of the roe ;" and fi'om Nor- 

 way we have Axel Boeclc's observations, which fully agree with this.^^ In 

 Scotland the views seem to differ somewhat from ours ; thus Alhnan says, 

 that the development of the roe of the winter-spawning herring occu- 

 pies 25 to 30 days,*^ whilst the fishermen say that it generally takes the 

 roe of the summer-herring 2 to 3 weeks and that of the winter-herring 4 to 8 

 weeks to develop f^ Bertram^ hdwever, comi^utes the period necessary for 

 developing the ogg at 10 weeks.''^ 



The newly-hatched young herrings vary somewhat in size according to 

 the size of their progenitors, those on the coast of Stockholm measuring 

 only 7 millimeters,^^ whilst those on the west coast of Norway reach a 

 length of 10 millimeters.^^ 



The newly-born herring with its long and narrow body bears very 

 little similarity to its progenitors, and therefore has to undergo consid- 

 erable changes in size and shape until it becomes a genuine herring.^ 

 The tender young herring grows very rapidly ; higher temperature and 

 the larger quantity of food consequent upon it will accelerate its 

 developement. 



Prof. C. J. Sundevall therefore feels justified, on the ground of his 

 own and Baron C. J. Cederstrwri's observations, in stating that the 

 young herring on the coast of Stockholm reach a length of 25 millimeters 

 in about two months, 36 millimeters in three months, 50 millimeters in 

 four months, 75 millimeters in one and 125 to 150 millimeters in two 

 years.^^ Ekstrom says that the young herrings on the coast of Morko 



'^''Gotchon/s och Bohmldns Kgl. Hushdllnings-Sdllslcaps handlingar, 185G,p. 10, 11, — GiJte- 

 horgs och Boluisldns fmtna (vertebrates). Goteborg, 1877, j). 579. 



*^0m Silden og SUdefiskerierne, p. 12-13. 



49 Report of the Royal Commission on tlie operation of the acts relating to trawling 

 for herring on the coast of Scotland. Edinburg, 1863, p. 24. 



60 Evidence of the Royal Commission on the operation of the acts relating to trawling 

 for herring, p. 21,33, 34. — Mitchell, "The herring," p. 340. — Bertram, "The Harvest 

 of the Sea." London, 1873, p. 168. 



*i The Harvest of the Sea, p. 171. — Buckland finally mentions observations from 

 Scotland by Captain McDonald, according to which the roe of the herring is hatched 

 in abont 18 days. (Report on the herring-fisheries of Scotland. London, 1878, p. 162. 



''^C. J. Sundevall, "Stockholms Idns Kgl. Hushdlln. Sdllsk. liandl., VI, p. 195. — Egl. 

 Svenslca Vetensk. Acads. Jiandl.,1, 1, 1855, p. 18. — The same observation is found in A. 

 W. Malm, "Goieiorg's och Bohuslans fauna," -p. 579. 



^BoECK, "Om Silden og SUdefiskerierne," p. 13. — According to the observations of the 

 German Fishery Commission, the length of the newly-hatched herring varies from 

 5.2-8.8 miUimeters. {Jahresiericht, IV-VI, p, 32, 33, 240-248. ) 



5<C. J. Sundevall, "Stockholms lans Egl. Hush. Scillsk. handl," VI, p. 196-197. Kgl. 

 Sv. Vet. Ak. handl., I, 1, 1855, p. 18-19, 21-22., Plate IV. (Jahrcsiericht der Commission zur 

 wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung der deutschen Meere, IV-VI, p. 74, 79, 98, 121, 127, 130, 243.) 



The overlooking of these facts has doubtless been the cause of several mistakes in 

 distinguishing young herring from young small herring. 



f^ Stockholms Idns Kgl. Hushdlln. Sdllsk. handl, VI, p. 105, 196-197. Kgl. Sv. Vet. Akad. 

 handl, I, 1, 1855, p. 18-19. 



