of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



317 



The next collection of small herrings from Aberdeen Bay was on 24th 

 April, in another year. They numbered 157, and ranged in size from 

 41-46mm. (lf-lff inches) — the modal size, the mean size (calculated on 

 the base-lino of the curve) and the arithmetical average, all agreeing at 

 43*5mm., or If inches. 



These herrings are clearly not those from the previous spring series, 

 but from the preceding autumn, and they are approximately seven or 

 eight months old. 



Small herrings were also obtained in June in Aberdeen Bay in two 

 separate years. In 1900 a shoal appeared in the Bay of Nigg, apparently 

 driven in by coal-fish (of which a large number were got in the salmon 

 stake-nets) ; fifteen of these, taken on the 19th, were measured by Dr. 

 Scott, who determined the contents of the stomach.* They ranged 

 between 5'5cm. and 6'5cm. (2g-2 T 9 ^ inches), the mean length being about 

 60mm., or 2| inches ; but it is, of course, quite uncertain if they were 

 representative of the shoal. 



Two of the herrings belonging to the shoal were placed by me in a 

 large glass carboy, containing about 18 gallons of water, and a circulation 

 maintained. These herrings were not attempted to be measured until 

 15th August, when one was found to be approximately 73mm. Cl- 

 inches) and the other 83mm. (3| inches) ; they were placed in a narrow 

 tube full of sea- water while being measured. On the 28th September 

 another attempt was made to measure them, and one was found to be 

 83mm. (3| inches) ; but it showed such signs of collapse that I refrained 

 from measuring the other herring, and both of them were lost some time 

 afterwards. 



If their size was about 60mm. on the 19th June, the indicated growth 

 in the two months would be approximately 13-23mm. (J-|f inch), and 

 the growth of one of them, assuming it to be the smaller measured in 

 August, from the latter period to 28th September would amount to 

 10mm. for the 44 days. These data are obviously slender and uncertain. 

 At all events, the remark was a common one at the time, that the herrings 

 were growing very slowly. t 



In June of another year a series was represented by 24 specimens, 

 measuring from 50mm. to 60mm. (2-2 1 inches), the modal size being 

 55mm., and the arithmetic average 55'8mm. (2 T 3 ^ inches). 



On 18th October, in a large collection, there was one measuring 85mm. 

 (3| inches), the next, part of a large group, measuring 96mm. The 

 former was certainly in its second year. 



Turning now to the collections of small herrings from other parts of 

 the coast, we find corresponding series. 



In the Dornoch Firth, on 21st October, 28 post-larval herrings were 

 taken in a tow-net. They measured from 14mm. to 20mm., the modal 

 size and the mean being 17mm., and the arithmetical average 16'8mm. 

 inch). These were from the autumn spawning. 



On 11th November, 48 were caught in a tow-net, which ranged in size 

 from 13mm. to 25mm., the mode and the mean being 19mm., and the 

 arithmetic average 18*6mm. (| inch). On 13th November, in the same 

 year, 156 were caught in tow-nets, measuring from 13mm. to 26mm. 

 (| to slightly over 1 inch); the modal size was 20mm., the mean 

 19'4mm., and the average 19*5mm. (f inch). On 26th December, in the 

 same year, the series is, perhaps, represented by 51 specimens, measuring 



* See Twentieth Annual Report, Part III., p. 530. 



f A small rockling kept in the same vessel, lurking among stones and weed at the 

 bottom, offered a striking contrast to the herrings. On 15th August it measured 57mm., 

 on 28th September 89mm., and on 14th November 97mm. It was fed with mussels. On 

 the other hand, the growth of the common pipe-fish (Syngnathxis acus) was very slow. 



