CHAP, vi.] GROWTH OF THE HERRING. 237 



rings of all sizes in my possession, from those of an inch long 

 upwards. The following are the measurements of a few speci- 

 mens which were procured about the end of February 1861, 

 and not one of which had any appearance of either roe or 

 milt, while some (the smaller fish) were strongly serrated in 

 the abdominal line, and others, as they advanced in size, lost 

 this distinguishing mark, and were only very slightly serrated. 

 The largest of these fish and they must all have been caught 

 at one time was eight inches long, nearly four inches in cir- 

 cumference at the thickest part of the body, and weighed a 

 little over two ounces. The smallest of these herring-fry did 

 not weigh a quarter of an ounce, and was not quite three 

 inches in length. One of them, again, that was six inches 

 long, only weighed three-quarters of an ounce ; whilst another 

 of the same lot, four and a half inches long, weighed a quarter 

 of an ounce exactly. I do not propose at present to enter at 

 great length into the sprat controversy; but, if the sprat be the 

 young of some one of the different species of herring, as I take 

 leave to think it is, then the question of its growth and natural 

 economy will become highly important. Some people say 

 that the herring must have attained the age of seven years 

 before it can yield milt or roe, whilst a period of three years 

 has been also named as the ultimate time of this event ; 

 but there are persons who think that the herring attains its 

 reproductive power in eighteen months, while others affirm 

 that the fish grows to maturity in little more than half that 

 time. If the average size of a herring may be stated as 

 eleven and a half inches, individual fish of Clupea harengus 



the tide and waves from moving it about. The fishermen also say that 

 when the young herrings are hatched they can see and swim ; the 

 milt covering bursts open, and they are free to roam about. Some 

 naturalists think the roes and milts of herring are all mixed together 

 promiscuously, and left on the sands to bud and flourish. The fisher- 

 men's idea seems to be the most likely of the two opinions." 



