Genital System of the Myxinoidea 83 



SIZES OF BDELLOSTOMA STOUTl 

 TAKEN IN MONTEREY BAY BY J. LEROY CONEL 



During the summer of 1930 I caught more than six thousand specimens of Bdellostoma 

 stouti in Monterey Bay at Pacific Grove, CaHfornia, and examined them with special 

 consideration as to the question of hermaphroditism. I found that the mature males, 

 containing ripe spermatozoa, were usually longer than females which contained nearly 

 mature eggs. Some females with eggs almost ready to be deposited were only one-half 

 as long as adult males. The largest individuals were usually found to be males; the 

 largest eel caught was a male measuring 82 cm., and its testis was full of ripe spermatozoa. 

 I also observed many very small young females which had no indications of a testis in any 

 part of the ovary. In Dean's small notebook are five loose leaves containing the sizes of 

 38 females and 100 males of Bdellostoma stouti. The figures have been added, and the 

 averages computed; ■ the average length of the females is 41.5 cm., and that of the males is 

 42 cm. As a result of my own observations I fee! quite positive that the California haa- 

 fish is not a protandric hermaphrodite. Whether either Bdellostoma stouti or B. hurgeri 

 shows any form of hermaphroditism will become apparent from an examination of their 

 sex organs. 



GROWTH OF THE MALE GENITAL ORGANS 

 OF BDELLOSTOMA BURGERI AND BDELLOSTOMA STOUTI 



The testis is usually confined to the posterior part of the mesorchium, but patches of 

 testicular tissue are occasionally scattered along the entire length of the mesorchium; 

 rarely does the testicular tissue form a continuous band extending along the free margin 

 of the mesorchium from the most anterior to the most posterior ends (Conel, 1917; Fig. 83). 

 Micro.scopic examination reveals that the testis band consists of follicles of various sizes 

 which are filled with the germ cells. Ail the cells in any one follicle are in aoproximately 

 the same stage of development (Conel, 1917; Fig. 77). 



Under the heading of ''remarks" in his notebook. Dean usually indicated whether 

 a male hagfish was mature or immature by such words as "ripe," "mature," "not quite 

 ripe," "unripe," "immature," "young ." He recorded the testis as being located at the 

 posterior end of the mesorchium, occasionally with the notation, "far back," and in some 

 specimens "extending far forward." Under remarks for specimen No. 393, which is a 

 male 34 cm. long, are written the words, "v/ith young eggs." This is the only male which 

 he has recorded as having eggs in the gonad, and nowhere in the notes does he mention 

 having seen specimens which contained both testis and ovary. Dean made five drawings 

 to illustrate progressive stages in the development of the testis from the very young to the 

 adult condition; these drawings are reproduced in Figures 1 to 5 of plate I. 



Dean did not label any of the sixteen drawings which he made to indicate whether 

 they represent Bdellostoyna stouti or hurgeri. A list with descriptions of these drawings is 

 pasted in the large notebook on the back of the page which contains Table II; this table 



