IN THE BAYS ON THE SOUTH-EAST COAST OF DEVON. 



491 



fluctuations in different years, one month is the nearest approximation 

 we can make. 



" It is well known that the spawning period extends over a number of 

 months, and isolated cases may occur much earlier and later than the 

 usual period. Specimens examined during November seemed, especially 

 the males, quite ready to spawn, but it was not until the middle of 

 December that spawning was actually observed. 



" The observations made during December, January, and February are 

 summarised in the following table, the details with regard to sizes being 

 given in Table XXIX. The various conditions which the reproductive 

 organs may show are classified under three headings : (1) maturing, 

 (2) spawning, (3) spawned. As there has always been some dubiety 



January 25th. February 10th. 



? 

 11 



16 

 10 



U 

 49 



70 



70 



with regard to the demarcation of these stages from one another and 

 from the immature condition, a description may be given of the 

 symptoms chosen as guides for the present work. During the period 

 when the observations were made the difficulty of distinguishing the 

 immature from the mature, whether male or female, is reduced to a 

 minimum. In every case the reproductive organs and not merely the 

 external appearance were examined, and during this period the males 

 only give some trouble. When the testes are clearly developed, but 

 no milt is running, the males are considered to be maturing ; if milt 

 comes freely or on slight compression, they are considered as spawning. 

 If the testes are flaccid and a little milt can still be expressed, the 

 males are put down as having spawned. Doubtful specimens are not 

 entered on the list. 



" It appears from the table that up to the 15th January the great 

 majority of the males were still maturing, and that less than 30 per 

 cent, could be considered as spawning. After that date all the 

 specimens examined were spawning. The percentages for both sexes 

 agree in showing that the maximum spawning period is later than the 

 15th of January. 



