Herring Investigations at Plymouth. VII. On the Artificial Fertilisation and Hatching of Herring Eggs under known Conditions of Salinity, with some Observations on the Specific Gravity of the Larvæ

Abstract

It has previously been shown (Ford, 1, p. 284) that herrings with fully ripened roes or milts form a considerable proportion of the landings by commercial drifters at Plymouth during December and January. Although naturally-deposited spawn has rarely been obtained from the sea-bottom in the district, the fact that newly-hatched larvæ occur in abundance provides evidence that actual spawning occurs locally. It has also been shown that from the end of September onwards, ripe fishes may be taken in stop-nets in Plymouth Sound, and even in sprat-seines in the estuarine waters of the River Tamar. A number of interesting and important questions is suggested by these observations. For example, do the ripe herrings which frequent the River Tamar actually spawn there, and if so, are they morphologically identical with those which spawn at sea, or are they of a different character? Would eggs deposited in the river be successfully fertilised and able to endure the periodic freshening of the water? Are the morphological characters of the offspring in any way dependent upon the environmental conditions under which they are developed?