SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 173 



also, are unaffected ; but here, as regards the present figures, 

 we are faced with the other difficulty of insufficient sampling. 



Further samples from all districts must be examined 

 before the question of local races can be discussed with any 

 confidence. 



One point on which something may, perhaps, be said 

 is the relative numbers of the sexes. Heincke states 

 that he has the same impression as Ewart, that the females 

 come to the spawning grounds earlier than the males, and also 

 leave earlier. He also says that he believes that among 

 spawning herring the females are in the majority. 



My figures lead me to believe that males are more abundant 

 than females. Even omitting Stages I, II and VII, so as to 

 remove any possibility of a mistake in determining the sex, 

 there are more males than females in my samples. 



This would agree with Fulton's statement* that among 

 fish with demersal eggs females are, as a rule, fewer than the 

 males, although his figures for the herringf show practical 

 equality in numbers between the sexes, females being in a slight 

 majority. Ewart'sf account of the spawning of the herring 

 would also seem to indicate a preponderance of males. 



* Fishery Board, Scotland, 9th Annual Report. 

 | Fishery Board, Scotland, 8th Annual Re/port. 

 \ Fishery Board, Scotland, 2nd An mad Report. 



