SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 99 



of this inflow from year to year. Some charts are 

 also given in this report which illustrate the variable 

 distribution of Atlantic sea-temperatures from year 

 to year. These are based on the temperature obser- 

 vations recorded in the Atlantic " Pilot Charts," and 

 they show that any isotherm varies in latitude 

 (when it crosses any particular meridian) from month to 

 month, and also from year to year. Doubtless this 

 monthly and annual variation in the ocean may yet be 

 utilised in the attempt to forecast the temperature varia- 

 tion in shallow seas, such as our Fishery District. 



Investigation oe the Herring. 



In this first paper on the subject Mr. Biddell gives 

 measurements of certain selected characters of the herring. 

 The samples examined consist of about 100 herring from 

 the coast of Wales, and 150 herring caught off the Smalls 

 by Fleetwood and Milford steam-trawlers. The investiga- 

 tion was commenced because of the agitation of the last 

 few years with regard to the new method of capturing 

 herring by otter trawls worked from steam trawlers. It 

 forms part of the general scheme of investigation arranged 

 by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries for the purpose 

 of studying the races of herring in British Seas. 

 Mr. Riddell gives tables, and shows that there are 

 apparently significant differences in the characters of the 

 Welsh and the steam-trawl caught herrings. The investi- 

 gation will be extended to the Manx herring in summer. 



Sea-Bottom Deposits and the Food of Fishes. 



While Mr. Kobert Ray was working ;is a post-graduate 

 researcher last session in the Liverpool Laboratory, I set 

 him to obtain and examine a series of samples of sea- 



