body shape, coloration, presence or absence of striations on the operculum, and 

 by comparison of their scales.' No adult, young, or juvenile B. gunteri ever appeared 

 in the lagoon collections, although adults and young were found from time to time 

 in catches of commercial seiners along the Gulf beaches of Galveston Island during 

 spring and sunnmer months. 



Adults and young of B. patronvs were observed sporadically, chiefly on the 

 channel side of the lagoon mouth. Many larval menhaden were taken in the collec- 

 tions. The larval stages of the two menhaden could not be separated, and it is 

 possible that both species were represented. In attempts to rear larval menhaden 

 to a size where species differentiation could be determined, specimens were held 

 in aerated 30-gallon aquaria. Although they fed actively on tropical fish food, 

 brine shrimp, and finely macerated fresh shrimp, and often lived for as long as 

 3 months, no increase in length or depth, or any change in other morphological 

 characteristics was apparent. However, as only B. patronus juveniles and young 

 were found in the vicinity, larval mienhaden in the collections are considered as 

 this species. Their occurrence and abundance throughout the study period are 

 shown in table 2. The data indicate that spawning takes place from late October 

 through April, probably offshore, with a peak in January. These findings agree 

 closely with those of previous investigations of B. patronus. 



Of special note was the occurrence of tremiendous numbers of juvenile 

 menhaden (30-38 mm.) on May 1, 1958. This concentration was maintained for 

 several days despite almost continuous decimation by speckled trout, terns, 

 gulls, and anglers seeking them for bait. Juveniles were observed and commonly 

 taken by cast net and dip net throughout late spring and early summer. 



Table 2. —Occurrence of B. patronus (larvae) 

 Average number per set 



Month 



1953 



1954 



1955 



1956 



1957 



1958 



DoTosoma cepedianum ( Le Sueur) 



Gizzard Shad 



Three gizzard shad, measuring 11.5, 19.0, and 23.0 cm., were taken by 

 seining operations in area "A" in November 1955. Two, 12.0 and 14.5 cm. in 



JFor the same size fish, scales of B. patronus are approximately three times as large in areaas those of B. gunteri; 

 they are square in shape in contrast to the rectangular-shaped scales of B. gunteri, and their ctenii are pointed, as con- 

 trasted to the blunter and shorter ctenu of the latter si)ecies. 



8 



