bays and lagoons. At this time the nuxnber of ripe adult croakers entering the 

 comnnercial catch increases noticeably. The first collection of croakers with 

 well-developed roe and evidently in spawning condition was taken on Septem- 

 ber 18 in the Horn Island Pass area, whereas the last ripe or nearly ripe fish 

 was collected about the first of December. The largest gravid croaker ob- 

 served was a female, 207 mm. long and weighing 117 grams, taken from east 

 of the Mobile ship channel on October 7, The smallest spawning adult was a 

 female, 143 mm, in total length and 32 grams in weight, captured in the same 

 area on October 29. 



Spot apparently spawn somewhat later than croaker. The first ripe 

 specimens were sampled on November 10, and by November 25 all fish ex- 

 amined were ripe and running ova or milt. By January all fish were spent, 

 indicating that the height of the spawning period is somewhat earlier than 

 that of the same species in the Texas coast area. The largest gravid spot 

 observed was a female 215 mm. long and weighing 94 grams, taken off Horn 

 Island on December 22. The smallest was a sexually mature female, measur- 

 ing 154 mm, in total length and 37 graims in weight, captured off Dauphin 

 Island on November 20. 



The spaw^ning period for silver seatrout appears more protracted 

 than that of either of the other species. Moreover, this species reportedly 

 spawns within bays and lagoons in contrast to the croaker and spot which 

 spawn in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Individual fish were found 

 in all stages of sexual development throughout the spring and summer. Ripen- 

 ing seatrout were collected from February 7 through August 18. A few ripe 

 females were sampled as late as October 2. The largest specimen observed 

 was a gravid female, 295 mm, long and weighing 216 grams, taken from the 

 area of Petit Bois Island on July 22. 



The scaled sardine, or razorbelly, began ripening in early May, 

 and by late June most specimens were sexually mature. Those collected on 

 July 7 were largely spent, the last sexually mature specimen being taken on 

 July 10. 



29 



