Buoyancy of Atlantic and Pacific Herring

Abstract

Pacific and Atlantic herring after adjustment to water 36 cm deep had sinking-factors between 1000 and 1008 and showed an inverse relationship between oil content and swimbladder volume up to 12% oil. At higher oil contents a swimbladder volume between 2.6 and 3.0% of total body volume was maintained. The mean volumes and densities of various components of the Pacific herring held in captivity were: swimbladder gas 4.1% of total volume,.0013 g/ml; oil 3.5%,.926 g/ml; scales 0.5%, 1.966 g/ml; skeleton 1.2%, 1.993 g/ml; rest of fish 90.6%, 1.057 g/ml. These components on the average exerted upward forces of 41.4 and 3.3 dynes/ml of fish due to gas and oil, and downward forces of 4.6, 11.2, and 32.1 dynes/ml due to scales, skeleton, and the rest of the fish respectively. Under natural conditions herring usually have high oil contents so the relationship observed here suggests they have low swimbladder volumes. This combined with a duct direct from the swimbladder to the exterior and the lack of gas secretion would give the herring freedom of vertical movement and a low change of sinking factor with depth.