24 KEPORT OF ('0MM18SI0XEKS OF IXLAXD FISHERIES. 



IX. At which season of the year do the stai'-fish spaion ? (If at a 



particular season, a special effort should he made to kill the 

 animals before spawning, and thus destroy both stars and 

 sptaiun.) 



The spawning season of the star-fish is imdeterniined. That 

 they spawn in the summer any oyster-man will tell j^ou. I have 

 found stars containing ripe eggs and ripe spermatozoa from June 

 until December, and should not be sur^Drised if they spawned 

 throughout the year. 



X. What are the habits of the ^'fry " or free sivirnming young ? 



{The young of many marine animals, ivhile far more abund- 

 ant than the adults, are far more delicate and easier of exter- 

 mination.) 



I have thus far given little attention to the habits of the free- 

 swimming "fry" or brachiolaria. It is welt-known, however, 

 that they begin life in the water, that is to say, the female star- 

 fish discharges the eggs unprotected into the water, and the milt 

 or si)ermatozoa, discharged in the same way by the male, comes 

 in contact with and fertilizes the eggs. In a few hours the eggs 

 have developed into free-swimming forms which propel themselves 

 by means of vibratile hairs definitely arranged on the surface. 



Under favorable conditions one can cai:)tui'e millions of these 

 little creatures by dragging a fine net at the surface of the water. 

 Thej' appear and disappear mysteriously however, usually prefer- 

 ring to come to the surface at night. Menhaden and other marine 

 animals, not the least of them the oyster itself, doubtless destroy 

 millions of these minute larvae. 



XI. Wliat is the duration of the larval period? [If an effort is to 



be made to destroy the larvce, tvhen must it be made ?) 



The duration of the larval j)eriod is about three weeks, but 

 varies according to the temperature of the water, an increase in 

 temperature accelerating development. 



