THE HERRING FISHERY. 17 



along the shores at Ayr that the people got a good supply 



by means of baskets. This is not at all 'wonderful, as three Abundance in 



, . - . . recent years. 



years ago we lifted a good many on board with baskets in 

 deep water off Ballantrae. 



Writers differ widely in their opinions regarding the time Maturity of 



the herring. 



required to bring a herring to maturity most of them 

 thinking that it takes years. Fishermen, too, I observe, are 

 undecided on the point, but recent experiments in Rothesay Rothesay 



Aquarium. 



Aquarium will throw some light on the subject. Herrings Growth of the 

 put in there a few inches long became full grown in less herrin S- 

 than eighteen months, though they did not fill properly. It 

 may be supposed that if in confinement herrings grow so 

 quickly, maturity must be reached much earlier in the open 

 sea, where proper food can be got. At Ballantrae, in 1 879, 1 

 assisted Mr. Melville, who was fishery officer there at that Mr - Buck - 



land's investi- 



time, in procuring some herring spawn for the late Mr. gation. 

 Frank Buckland, Her Majesty's Inspector of Salmon Fish- 

 eries. He wished to ascertain the time taken by the herring 

 to arrive at maturity. Most likely the spawn died before A failure, 

 reaching Mr. Buckland, as his investigation was unsuccessful. 

 The bottles employed were small, holding only two pints or Probable 



causes of the 



little more. These were filled three parts with water, and failure, 

 pieces of seaweed, to which the spawn had adhered, were 

 also put into the bottles, which were closed by covering their 

 mouths with thick paper secured with gum, no air being 

 admitted. The spawn would be at least two hours out of 

 water before being placed in bottles. Had larger bottles 

 been used, the spawn placed immediately in them and the 

 cover perforated, the result might perhaps have been more 

 satisfactory. It is very beautiful to see the spawn on a Beauty of 



spawn on 



broad leaf of seaweed. There is no crowding, each egg or seaweed, 

 particle is placed in the nicest precision, and there is ample 

 space to allow the egg to expand as the young herring is 

 E. 20. C 



