328 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



difference in the means is 0-64, sixteen times E, or thirteen 

 times the standard error, and therefore significant. 



K 2 . Here the mean of the inshore fish is 14-02, a = 0-84, 

 E = + 0-04. The mean of the trawled fish is 13-91, a = 0-69, 

 E=0-03. The standard error is 0*05,- and hence the 

 difference is not significant. 



Thus out of these five characters three — D, V, and I. cp. I. — 

 show differences which are probably significant, and two — 

 A and K 2 — show differences which cannot be so regarded. 



Always assuming, therefore, that we are justified in 

 regarding these inshore fish as belonging to one group, there 

 seem to be grounds for regarding the two series as showing 

 some degree of racial separation. The correctness of this 

 conclusion will have to be tested next season on a larger number 

 of fish with a more extended series of measurements. Both 

 these groups belong to the winter herring ; it is hoped in the 

 coming season to make a detailed examination of the summer 

 herring also. There is a further point to which I think attention 

 might be directed in subsequent investigations. One or two 

 of the characters show some indication of a sexual difference 

 between members of the one race. Thus I have separated 

 the two sexes of the inshore fish as regards V, with the following 

 result : — 



$ :— Mean 76-01, a = 1-36, E = ± 0-1. (76 examples). 

 2 :— Mean 75-5, a = 1-02, E = ± 0-08. (66 examples). 



Here the difference in the means is five times the probable 

 error, but the significance of this depends upon how far one 

 can regard the two series as representing the sexes properly. 

 Personally, I am not inclined to insist upon it, as the series 

 are so small, but I think the point might be worth investigation 

 when a larger number of fish are under examination. Such 

 differences have already been described in the plaice by 

 Duncker. 



As regards the spawning of the inshore fish, it will be 



