REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 73 



to the spawning habits of the haHlnit. The testimony of observers 

 seems to indicate a spawning season in American waters histing 

 through the summer and into the autumn. On the European coast, 

 according to Cunningham, the hahbut spawns from April to August, 

 and the period may extend somewhat in both directions.* 



Ripe eggs of the haUbut have been seen only rarely, while the 

 fertilized eggs of this species are entirely unknow-n. Mclntoshf 

 describes some fresh and apparently ripe eggs which were taken in 

 May, 1892. Their diameter ranged from 3.07 mm. to 3.81 mm. 

 (3-20 inch). The yolk was colorless and translucent; there was no 

 oil globule. The capsule egg was very thin and collapsable. An- 

 other sample of ripe eggs was secured the same year; these averaged 

 from 3.4 mm. to 3.7 mm. in diameter. On the 5th of May, 1893, 

 half a gallon of ripe eggs was obtained from a fish from Bergen Bank; 

 the diameter of these averaged from 3.08 mm. to 3.8 mm. These 

 eggs were apparently buoyant when alive; they are thus perhaps 

 the largest pelagic eggs known. As yet there is no record that any 

 scientist has ever examined ripe eggs of halibut from American 

 waters. 



The earliest known stage of the halibut is that described by Dr. 

 Peterson of the Danish Zoological Station. It was procured in 

 Christiansand; it measured 32 mm. (1 3-8 inch). This was still in 

 the free-swimming condition, as was indicated by the position of the 

 left eye, which had only just commenced to move forward and up- 

 ward; it had 104 rays in the dorsal fin, 88 in its anal, 22 in its caudal; 

 the mouth was large and the gill cover had a row of spines. J 



Young halibut about 12 inches long, 3 3-4 inches across at the 

 widest part, have occasionally been found in the water of shallow 

 bays, like that of St. Andrews; this seems to indicate that after 

 passing their earliest stages in deep water, they seek shallow water 

 for a certain portion, at least, of their adolescent period, and then 



* Marketable Marine Fishes. 1896, 243. 

 t British Marine Food-Fishes, 1897, 315. 



t British Marine Food Fishes, 1897, 318. This specimen was first mentioned by Collet in 

 his "Norges Fiske" (Plate XII, Fig- 10). 

 10 



