NATURAL HISTORY OF REDFISH, ETC., OF TEXAS 



207 



T.\Bi.K 31. — Length-f requeue// distribiUion of the spot {Leioslomus xanthurus) taken in Texas from 



March, 1926, to May, 1927 



Following Figure 43 (a siuoothed frequency graph secured from the data in 

 Table 30), the first period of collection through the weeks of March 28 to April 25, 

 1926, showed the presence of the first two year classes having modal length at 6 and 

 19 centimeters (2.3 and 7.4 inches). The youngest or O class grew rapidly during 

 the following summer, reaching a modal length of 13 centimeters (5.1 inches) by 

 Octobei- 10 to 31, 1926. Growth of this class during the winter of 1926 27 was not 

 great, but by the end of May, 1927, a modal length of IS centimeters (7.1 inches) 

 was attained. 



The I class, represented by a modal length of 19 centimeters (7.4 inches) in 

 April, 1926, showed very little growth during 1926. At the end of its second year 

 (November to December, 1926) this I class apparently migrated from the bays to 

 the Gulf of Mexico for spawning purposes and did not return to the bays in the 

 spring in any considerable numbers. 



The month of December, 1926 (see table 34), brought a new year class of 

 spots into existence. The modal length attained by this youngest or O class by 

 April 17 to May 22, 1927, was about 7 to 8 centimeters (2.7 to 3.1 inches), with a 

 length distribution ranging from 4 to 12 centimeters (1.5 to 4.7 inches). The modal 

 length reached during the period from March 20 to April 10, 1927 (6 centimeters), 

 by this O class was identical with the modal length observed for the O class from 

 March 28 to April 25, 1926. 

 ir.499~29 6 



