snugly ensconced in his retreat, patiently awaits the summons to 

 begin the struggle for a separate, and independent, existence. No 

 thought of food is entertained; life appears to be a period of rest, 

 when suddenly, without warning, he is thrust forth with scant cere- 

 mony, given his inheritance at birth, and that he may not squander 

 his birthright, the food pouch, it is firmly attached to his body, near 

 the anal opening, and hangs pendant, trailing along as he swims, 

 a distinct but necessary encumbrance. Must he continue through 

 the cycle of life, thus handicapped, with the carrying of this ever 

 present appendage, a constant danger when pursued by enemies? 

 Let us investigate this obstacle to swift motion, of what does it 

 consist, why cannot the fish exist without this impediment? What 

 is the function of this golden pedunculated sphere? It is soft to 

 the touch, the surface is smooth and shiny, and has the external 

 appearance of an egg without the hard shell. We will rupture this 

 sac and ascertain what is contained therein, a tiny slit will suffice, 

 and then an outpouring of a pale, lemon yellow substance, of the 

 consistency of cream, with a sickish, sweet odor, with a fishy taste 

 not unlike fried halibut, with the feel of small granular particles on 

 the tongue. Here we have exemplified one of the wonderful pro- 

 visions of nature, a small, immature fish some five inches in length, 

 hampered in its movements with a large sac-like appendage, a fish 

 with the appendage of the skin only partially developed (by the 

 appendage of the skin of fish we mean the scales and teeth). As 

 before stated, the sac contains predigested food that is absorbed to 

 sustain the young grayfish until his teeth are developed to a degree 

 that will enable him to secure food. 



17 



