Herring Investigations at Plymouth. IV. The Growth of Young Herrings in the Neighbourhood of Plymouth

Abstract

Comparatively little has been published concerning the habitat and growth of young herrings in the English Channel, especially during the first year of their life. On May 26th, 1927, the first of a series of hauls with a small-meshed Saltash tuck seine (vide Davis, 1, p. 70, for a description of this type of net) was made in the River Tamar and a fine haul of young clupeoids obtained, which included the young of the herring, sprat and pilchard. Since then, regular samples have been taken from the rivers Tamar, Tavy and Lynher, and sufficient numbers of young herrings collected on each occasion to give a reasonable indication of the length-distribution prevailing. Sampling is still in progress and will be continued until one year's observation has been completed, but sufficient data are now to hand to merit an initial report. The localities from which the samples were obtained are indicated in the accompanying chart.