80 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



(See Smith, Bull. U. S. Fish Commission, XV. 1895, 301, Rathbun Reports, 

 U. S. Fish Commission XIX, 1893, 38, and XX, 1844, 94 and XXI, 

 1895, 82. The latest discussion of this question is by Kendall, Bull. 

 U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, XXVIII, 1908, 279.) 



An examination of the condition of the reproductive organs of menha- 

 den from different localities in this vicinity was undertaken in an at- 

 tempt to answer the question: Do females about to spawn have any 

 decided tendency to approach the shore? Too few have been examined to 

 justify an answer, but the following data are given as a matter of record. 



Records of examination of the condition of the rej^roductive organs of 

 menhaden; made by H. C. Tracy, off the south shore of Long Island, 

 eight miles west of Montauk Pomt, May 22, 1906: 



Time, noon. Weather, fair. Wind, southwest. 



2 females, intermediate. 



1 male, intermediate. 



2 males, immature. 

 12 females, spent. 



(These taken from a catch of 8,000 fish.) 



Place, two miles off south shore of Long Island, five miles west of Montauk, 

 8 A. M., May 22, 1906. 



22 females, spent. 

 35 males. 



2 females, intermediate. 

 4 females, partly spent. 

 (Taken from catch of 3,000 fish.) 



Date and place, as above. Time, 10 A. M. 

 21 males. 



23 females, spent. 



3 females, intermediate. 



(A very few males had large testes.) 



(Taken from haul of 2,000 fish.) 



Records of examination of the condition of the reproductive organs of 



menhaden; made by H. C. Tracy, June 5, 1906. Dutch Island Harbor 



trap: 

 Time, 1 P. M. Weather, fair. Wind, southwest. 

 6 females, intermediate. 

 6 females, spent. 

 9 males, intermediate. 



4 females, spent. 



