REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 137 



first specimen taken at Pawtuxet was on April 26, but on April 13, 1908, 

 half a dozen specimens were taken in the trap at Dutch Island Harbor. 



Reproduction: Spawning season lasts from May to middle of July. 

 Eggs are ^\ inch in diameter, buoyant, without an oil globule. Larvae 

 2.5 mm. in length at hatching (Agassiz, 1882; Brice, 1887). Probably 

 spawns in the third season after hatching. 



Rate of Growth: During July and August of each year eggs, larva, and 

 young of all sizes up to 1^ inches (34 mm.) are found in considerable 

 numbers in the lobster-rearing cars at the Experiment Station at 

 Wickford. About the same time similar specimens are taken along 

 the shores in seines. During the latter part of July and August, young 

 are very common in the eel-grass and rockweed in shallow water. 

 The following specimens have been taken in the seine: May 30, 1910, 

 15 specimens, averaging 86.3 m., ranging from 46 to 120 mm.; in 

 none of these were the gonads at all developed; July 20, 1908, 

 at Cornelius Island, three specimens — 2 inches (51 mm.), 2^ inches 

 (58 mm.), 2 2-5 inches (61 mm.) ; Augu.st 10, 1908, at Cornelius Island, 

 two specimens — 3 1-5 inches (80 mm.), and 3 4-5 inches (95 mm.); 

 August 20, 1908, Cornelius Island, four specimen.s — 2 inches (51 mm.), 

 21 inches (56 mm.). If inches (44mm. ), 2 inches (51 mm.); August 14, 



1906, at Vial Creek, Quonset, a half-dozen specimens about one inch 

 long; August 15, 1907, Rabbit I.sland, five .specimens — 2-5 inches (10 

 mm.) to 1 2-5 inches (35 mm.), and one specimen, 3 inches (75 mm.); 

 August 5, 1909, Cornelius Island, 1 1-12 inches (28 mm.); August 13, 



1907, Fishing Cove Gut, many specimens (16 mm.) to 1 3-5 inches 

 (40 mm.); August 13, 1909, Cornelius Island, two specimens — 3 2-5 

 inches to 3 3-5 inches; September 3, 1909, 9 specimens, average 46 

 mm., ranging from 35 m. to 61 m. 



On account of the fact that sjiecimens of all sizes are taken in the seine 

 and traps during the latter part of the summer, the later rate of growth 

 is difficult to determine without securing the average of a large number 

 of specimens at different times. But it seems probable that specimens 

 from three to six inches taken in the early part of the summer, and speci- 

 mens from eight to twelve inches taken in the latter part of the summer 

 are tautog of the second season, i. e., a year old. August 19, 1907, 

 specimen eight inches taken in the seine in Fishing Cove Gut. 



EPHIPPID^. The Angel-Fishes. 

 143. Chaetodipterus faber (Broussonet). Spadefish; Angcl-fish; Moon-jiish. 



Geog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Rio Janeiro, very abundant on our south 

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