BIGELOW: EXPLORATIONS OF THE COAST WATERS. 



267 



We did not make enough hauls near shore in the early part of the 

 season to develop the precise spawning grounds. So far as the 

 records go, they suggest that spawning is at its height in July, but 

 no general conclusions are warranted. 



The eggs of the "witch" {Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) were detected 

 twice only. Station 10279, May 26th, twenty specimens; Station 

 10287, June 14th, one egg. 



Cunner Eggs. — Eggs of the Cunner (Tcndogolahrus adspcrsus) 

 were taken at seven localities, always close to land (Stations 10300, 

 10301, 10313, 10323, off Wooden Ball Island; off Petit Passage, Nova 

 Scotia, and in Shelbume Harbor). The absence of its eggs at the off- 

 shore stations was to be expected, from its general distribution. 



Mcnhadcii Eggs. — The eggs of the Menhaden (Brevoortia tyramms) ^ 

 resemble those of the Pilchard {Clupea pilchardus) (Ehrenbaum 1905- 

 1909, p. 374, Fig. 142) but are easily distinguished from all Gulf 

 of Maine species, being characterized by large size (1.5-1.8 mm.); 

 broad perivitelline space; small oil-globule (.15-17 mm.), and very 

 long embryo. Although the Menhaden appears in the Gulf of Maine 

 in large numbers in summer, we have never found its eggs there. But 

 they appeared in considerable numbers in the tows south of Marthas 

 Vineyard (Station 10331) and in Nantucket Sound (Station 10335) in 

 October. 



Undetennined Eggs. — Among the eggs which I have not been able to 

 identify, are a considerable number, about .S5-.9 mm. in diameter, 

 with small oil-globule (.12-. 14 mm. in diameter), which much resemble 

 eggs of the Summer Flounder (Paralichthys de7itatus) studied b\- Mr. 

 Radcliffe at Woods Hole. But since the Summer Flounder is rare 

 north of Gape Cod, their identity is doubtful. Newly spawned eggs 

 of this type occurred at Stations 10275, 10291, 10300, and 10316. 



' Identified by Mr. Lewis Radcliffe, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 



