THE HERRING FAMILY 177 



We have now to consider what is known concerning the 

 history of the pilchard between its transformation to the perfect 

 form in one summer, and its appearance as yearling fish the 

 next. Mr. Dunn long ago observed that small pilchards 2 to 3 

 inches long were to be found on the coast between September 

 and Christmas. He had seen them taken in a mackerel seine in 

 September, and had found them in the stomachs of whiting, In 

 November, 1891, I found them in the stomachs of mackerel ; 

 they were from 2 to 3^ inches long, some of them less than 

 2 inches. These mackerel were caught outside the Eddystone. 

 But in September, 1893, I found that pilchard fry were not 

 found only in the open sea at some distance in the offing. I had 

 an opportunity of examining in that month the fish caught by 

 seine in the Hamoaze, opposite Devonport. The greatest part 

 of the catch consisted of full-grown sprats, but there was also a 

 large quantity of small fish of the character of whitebait. These 

 consisted mostly of young sprats, 2^ to 3^ inches long, but 

 among them were a small proportion of young pilchards, 2\ to 

 4f inches long. These were probably derived from spawn shed 

 in May or June. 



The growth of the pilchard in its second year is of course 

 more difficult to trace. It seems reasonable to suppose that the 

 fish which are 5 to 7 inches long in November, or earlier in 

 August and September, would reach a length of 8 to 10 inches 

 in the following summer, and then spawn for the first time. 

 The only ripe pilchards I have measured were from 9f to 10 

 inches long, but considering that these were taken in mackerel 

 nets, the mesh of which is large, it is probable that many fish 

 spawn at a smaller size. I have examined specimens from the 

 regular fishing in August, these were from 8f to 10 inches long, 

 and even in the smallest the roes appeared to be shotten, to 

 have discharged their eggs quite recently. We may conclude 

 therefore that some pilchards spawn in their second season when 

 they are about 8 inches long. The weight of a ripe female 

 is 5 to 5f ounces. 



N 



