The Effects of Salinity on Herring After Metamorphosis

Abstract

The salinity tolerance of herring 9-ca24 cm in length was found to lie between 6‰0 and 40–45‰0.Determinations of changes in weight and blood concentration (by measurement of the freezing-point), when herring were transferred from one salinity to another, demonstrated that extensive changes occurred in the blood. Under these conditions the herring experienced and survived blood concentrations equivalent to salinites of 13–22·5‰. A recovery to near normal (δ0·95 ≡ 15·8‰) took place in all the salinities within the tolerance range.Badly descaled herring in sea water showed large increases in blood concentration before death.A study of the kidney of the herring indicated that the ability to withstand the low salinities for long periods probably rested in the high glomerular count of the kidney.The importance of damage to the skin for survival is discussed in relation to tagging experiments.The results are also discussed in relation to the evolution of the herring.