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Part III. — Twenty -fourth Annual Report 



measured 37'5cm., the largest mentioned by Collett was 36'4cm., and a 

 herring measuring 34'4cm, was the largest found by Lundberg (22) in 

 the Royal Museum. 



Specimens of a very large size were obtained by Try bom in the course 

 of investigations on the west coast of Sweden, and he gives very full and 

 detailed measurements of them (23, 23a). Samples were selected from 

 the catches of various kinds of net, and from his Tables the following are 

 extracted. In the catches of set-nets (scittgamsfangst) the largest 

 measured 38*5, 37*0, 35*2, 34'8cm., i.e., up to 15-J- inches. Here are the 

 sizes of ten herrings from such a catch obtained at a place near 

 Marstrand on 11th November, the meshes of the net being 35mm. (1| 

 inches) from knot to knot :— 38-5, 35 2, 33-4, 33 4, 32-8, 39-7, 32-6, 32'5 

 32*2, 32*0cm., none being under 12 J inches. With mackerel nets the 

 sizes of the larger herrings were 36, 35 - 8, 35*3, and 35*2cm. ; with 

 seines (vadfaugst) the larger measured 37*2, 35.8, 33"8cm ; with purse- 

 seines {snorpvadsfangst) the largest were 34*4, 34, and 33"8cm ; with 

 drift nets, (drifgarnsfangst) the meshes going up to 33mm. inches), 

 herrings of the following dimensions were caught: — 35*8, 355, 35*1, 35, 

 34*8cm., &c. 



The largest herring of which I have found a record (24) is one which 

 was said to have been taken by a Dutch herring boat (De Dankbaarheid) 

 in the North Sea, about 57°23' N. Lat., on 23rd October 1863. This 

 giant measured 48"5cm. (a trifle over 19 inches); but it was probably a 

 shad, specimens of which are not uncommonly recorded by the unin- 

 structed as extraordinarily large herrings.* 



The largest obtained by me in Lochfyne measured 13| inches 

 (33*4cm.), but many were 13| inches. I have also received a herring 

 from the Firth of Forth of this size. 



From general considerations I think it very probable that herrings of 

 14 and 15 inches represent the usual maximum size attained, and it 

 must be borne in mind that on our east coast the herrings are all taken 

 by drift-nets, which is selective, and that the size of mesh is small 

 compared with those used by Try bom. In Lochfyne and the Clyde they 

 are taken mostly by seine-nets. 



4. — The Spawning Periods. 



There are two well-marked periods of spawning on the coast of 

 Scotland, one in spring and one in autumn. The former is chiefly in 

 March and February, as at Ballantrae Bank in the Clyde, and at the 

 mouth of the Firth of Forth j the latter is chiefly in August and September. 



Mr. Jeffrey, the Fishery Officer at Peterhead, who has had great 

 experience, tells me that on this part of the east coast (Aberdeenshire) 

 the autumn and summer spawning season varies very little, and that the 

 principal time may be safely set down as extending from the middle of 

 August to the end of the first week in September, though small shoals 

 may spawn a little before and a little after the period stated. With 

 regard to the winter or spring fishing, very little is done on the Aber- 

 deenshire coast, but the fishermen agree that the herrings taken in January 

 and February are well developed, and that they spawn in March. 



This is also the experience at Ballantrae and the Firth of Forth, and 

 I think March may be set down as the chief spring month for spawning, 

 though it extends from the latter part of January into April. It is 

 probable that the height of the spring spawning is separated from the 

 height of the autumn spawning by something less than six months, 



* Dr. Redelce, Scientific Adviser on Fisheries to the Dutch Government, kindly informs 

 me there is no evidence that the fish was examined by a competent person, and he does 

 not attach any value to the record. 



