206 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 

 Table 30. — Collections of young spots taken in Texas 



As late as March 30, 1927, post-larval fish were secured on their way into the bays, 

 although the numbers had decreased greatly. The surge of young into the bays 

 made it possible to trace them easily. Observations showed that the young spots 

 not only came into the bays with the incoming tidal currents, but, like the croakers, 

 they sought to gain their way through the passes against the tide. The schools 

 of post-larval fish invariably sought the side of the pass where the velocity of the 

 current was weakest, and a small minnow seine hauled at advantageous points at 

 times secured thousands of the young that were attempting to gain the shelter of 

 the bays. 



In Chesapeake Bay, according to Hildebrand and Schroeder (1928, p. 274), 

 "spawning takes place in late autunm and probably in winter and apparently at 

 sea, for in the fall a general exodus of large fish with maturing roe takes place from 

 the bay, the height of this migration occurring during late September and through- 

 out October." This fall migration of ripening adults was observed in Texas, although 

 it was not so pronounced as it appears to be along the Atlantic coast, where the 

 center of abundance is located. Welsh and Breder (1923, p. 177) stated that spawn- 

 ing time for the species is in late fall or early winter and appears to be the same in 

 both Atlantic and Gulf waters. 



GROWTH AND AGE 



With an extended spawning period, it might be expected that a considerable 

 range in length occurs among the young spots. While this is true in general, it does 

 not interfere with the abihty to trace the growth of the species during the first two 

 years of life. The length distribution of 3,471 spots, grouped into approximate 

 4-week periods, is given in Table 31. 



