of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



285 



•roins; down to 13*5 cand less ; number of vertebne to the first haemal arch 

 is, in contrast to small number of vertebrae, very high, on a average 

 25*0 and above ; head and tail very long, back very short ; dorsal and 

 ventral fins posterior, variation of their positions great — the ventral is 

 often under the middle of the dorsal, sometimes even behind this ; anal 

 fin very short ; snout long and strongly developed, cranium small, 

 tolerably high and narrow ; length to breadth index very small, on an 

 average under 30 "0 to 28*0 and individually to 27*0 — dolichocephalic. 



The " Streamlings " inhabit the coast waters especially of the eastern 

 Baltic in great multitudes, and spawn in spring more or less near to he 

 land — seldom before April, often even in June and July. 



IX. — Herring of the English Channel. — Although only a few specimens 

 from Brighton and from Havre have been studied, they show a clearly 

 marked local character ; they stand nearest to Group VI., the autumn- 

 herring of the southern North Sea, and show many of the distinguishing 

 characters of these, developed in the extreme. Size medium, probably 

 on an average not over 250mm. ; number of vertebrae seems small, on 

 average to 56'0 ; number of keeled scales behind ventral fins very large, 

 15*0 and more; form of head very characteristic, it is very short and 

 high, especially the snout ; cranium very high and brachycephalic : length 

 to breadth index on an average 32'0 and individually to 34*0. 



These herring form one limit or boundary of the species with regard to 

 their dwelling places. They spawn apparently more in winter than in 

 autumn — from November to February. 



X. — Herring of the White Sea. — A very distinct race, especially from 

 the European races, and might almost be called a distinct species ; size 

 moderate ; number of vertebrae very small, only 53*6 on average and 

 descends even to 52 ; this is a difference of at least 1*5 on average from 

 their nearest allies, the "Streamlings" of the Baltic (VIII.) ; very small 

 number of keeled scales, 26'5 on an average in front of ventral fins, 12'5 

 behind — together 39 ; so small a number does not appear in the other 

 races ; in contrast to the small number of vertebrae is the relatively high 

 number of these to the first haemal arch (25*0), and the high number of 

 the tail vertebrae, 15*0 ; the forward position of the dorsal fin and the 

 backward position of the anus are also remarkable ; further, the great 

 length of the anal and especially of the dorsal fins ; snout is very long 

 and high, with large jaws ; cranium is large, posteriorly narrow, teeth on 

 vomer very strong with only 2 to 9. 



The spawning-time and habits of this group are unknown. They 

 have a special interest because of their near alliance to the pilchard and 

 the sprat, as already pointed out. They further show an alliance to the 

 herring of Japan. 



The relationship between the characters of the Herring-races and their 

 surroundings. — So far this brief summary has dealt with the observations 

 of Dr. Heincke and the conclusions or classification drawn therefrom, and 

 with regard to these it should be remembered that nothing must be 

 looked upon as definitely fixed for all time. Future research of Dr. 

 Heincke or of others may cause some of the groups to be broken up, 

 decreasing or increasing their number. 



Heincke's work embodies the present state of knowledge on the 

 question, and forms a basis for future research. Its importance is shown 

 when we consider the complex relationships of marine life. The first 

 principle is that the herring as individual, race, and as species, lives in 

 harmony with its surroundings, and therefore undertakes no wanderings 

 into other places with other conditions of life. This principle, seemingly 

 so simple and self-evident, will be seen to be of importance in connection 



