1 06 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XV, 



During the time fishing operations were in progress, numerous 

 hauls of plankton were made from the inspection vessel at various 

 depths. The results showed the dominant organisms throughout 

 to be Salpa and Doliolum. These were present in vast abundance. 

 All were small, the salps chiefly in double chains with individuals 

 of all sizes up to half an inch in length. Siphonophores were 

 common, Diphyes being the most abundant. Several species of 

 Medusoids were represented but none in quantity. Molluscs were 

 represented by numerous small stout Pteropods (Hyalea sp.) and by 

 Atlanta larvag also comparatively frequent. Crustaceans were 

 notably very scarce, almost entirely Copepods of medium size. 

 Pelagic annelids were fairly common. Of fish larvae only a single 

 individual was seen. Numerous colonies of Collozoum were the only 

 protozoa noticed. Sargasso-weed, which presumably is the usual 

 object upon which this particular species of flying-fish deposits its 

 eggs, was scarce, only a single piece being noticed the whole time 

 we were at sea. This absence may possibly be correlated with the 

 proved scarcity of flying-fishes. 



So far as I can ascertain, this is the first occasion on which 

 definite and first-hand information has been obtained relative to 

 the characteristic spawning habits of any species of flying-fish. 

 The only reference I can find to the subject is Evermann and 

 Radcliffe's quotation* under Exocoetus volitans (L.) of a note by 

 Dr. Coker on some fish eggs as follows: — 



" Eggs were purchased in the market of Arequipa, July 26, 

 1908. They constitute a common market article known as'raw- 

 cau.' According to the fishermen of Mollendo, they are the eggs 

 of the flying-fish ' volador ' and are found abundantly in the early 

 summer beginning with October. Large quantities are dried for 

 later use." As pcz volador is the local name for Exocoetus chilensis 

 (Abbot), which is a synonym of E. volitans, Evermann and Radcliffe 

 infer that these egg masses probably belong to this species. No 

 information is forthcoming as to the conditions under which these 

 egg masses are deposited ; from what we have now learned con- 

 cerning the spawning habits of one Indian species, it seems likely 

 that E. volitans follows the same practice ; if so we may infer that 

 it is probable that the same habit is common to all flying-fishes. 



* "The Fishes of the West Coast of Peru and the Titicaca Basin," U.S. Nat. 

 Museum Bulletin, No. 95, page 44. 



