RACES OF HERRING, CLUPEA PALLASU, IN 
SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA 1 
& 
By George A. Rounsefell, Ph. D., Associate Aquatic Biologist, and Edwin H. Dahlgren, Junior 
Aquatic Biologist, United States Bureau of Fisheries 
* 
CONTENTS 
Fast 
Introduction 119 
Spawning and feeding localities 120 
Analysis of vertebral counts 123 
Discussion of factors influencing vertebral count distribution within a population 123 
Existence of races proven by heterogeneity of samples from all localities 124 
Homogeneity of material from individual localities 129 
Segregation of races 129 
Analysis of growth rates 133 
Analysis of year classes 138 
Tagging 138 
Summary 140 
Literature cited 140 
INTRODUCTION 
The reasons underlying this attempt to study the individuality and distribution 
of each population of herring are many, and for the most part, rather obvious. When 
a locality where herring have been abundant fails to produce its wonted supply, a 
question always arises as to the causes of such a failure. Aside from natural fluc- 
tuations in abundance or unusual unavailability to the fishermen, the apparent 
causes are migration or depletion. Without an intimate knowledge of the herring 
stocks either explanation is possible. For example, Whale Bay (Rounsefell, 1930, 
p. 238) on the outer coast of Baranof Island, produced a tremendous run of herring 
in 1925 but failed the following year. No herring have been caught in this bay 
since that time. It is now practically certain that this temporary run was caused 
by the summer herring schools that normally congregate about Cape Ommaney 
shifting farther north. On the other hand, the failure of the once important fishery 
in Kootznahoo Inlet, on Admiralty Island, may be fairly ascribed to depletion of the 
stocks from overfishing (Rounsefell, 1931, p. 35-36). 
Only by an intimate knowledge of the areas inhabited by each stock of herring 
is it possible to know whether fishing in one area is affecting the supply in another. 
It may now be said with certainty, for instance, that the heavy fishing in lower 
Chatham Strait can in no wise be blamed for the scarcity of herring tvat has been 
noticeable for several years in the “inside” waters of Behm Canal, Ernest Sound, 
Zimovia Strait, and upper Frederick Sound (Rounsefell, 1930, p. 236, 237 and 307; 
> Bulletin no. 17. Approved for publication, Oct. 4, 1934. 
119 
