PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1926 029 
increases rapidly and continues, at an average of approximately 2 2 
centimeters per month, through Oc tober. 
In the hope of observing spawning, a number of large mullet were 
placed in a tank of running sea water at the fisheries laboratory at 
Beaufort on October 27. From time to time the roe in killed speci- 
mens was examined, and while it appeared to be healthy, the eggs 
did not mature. The roe had not ripened when the last, specimen 
died on January 14, 1927. Various methods of estimating the num- 
ber of eggs in the ovaries of a fish of 367 millimeters body length 
were tried. Different methods gave results varying between 759,000 
and 1,526,000. The eggs are not spherical but are more nearly an 
ovate ‘spheroid, the long axis being 0.61 millimeter and the short 
axis 0.57 millimeter. In all parts of the ov: ary the eggs are in the 
same stage of development. This meager evidence, combined with 
the observed disappearance of roe mullet from inside waters during 
October and the compact size group of young fish, leads to the con- 
viction that the spawning season is short. 
Observations throughout the season on the selectivity of commer- 
cial gear, in conjunction with samples of the commercial catch, show 
that the strain of the fishery falls most heavily on three age classes: 
“Cape mullet” approximately 1 year old,. 2-year gray mullet that 
will spawn the following fall, and roe mullet chiefly 3 years old. 
The yearling stock that appears at Beaufort in the middle of Janu- 
ary as individuals less than 1 inch long and attains a total length of 
about 7 inches by October seldom is taken. 
SHORE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 
Life-history studies of various food fishes have been undertaken 
at the fisheries biological laboratory at Beaufort, N. C. The eggs 
of the pigfish (Orthopristis chrysopterus) and those of the anchovy 
(Anchoviella epsetus) were secured and their development was 
studied. The development of the larve and the rate of growth of 
the young fish, too, have been followed. Special attention was given 
to the food consumed by the young fish and the changes that take 
place in the diet with age, together with the change in “environment 
chosen by the fish as they develop. Similar studies, relative to the 
rate of growth, food, and environment of young sheepshead (Archo- 
sargus probatocephalus), young spot (Leiostomus wanthurus), and 
young white perch (Bairdiella chrysura), were undertaken. This 
work was carried on by Dr. Samuel F. Hildebrand and Irving L. 
Towers. 
Other work at the Beaufort laboratory is discussed elsewhere in 
this report. 
TEXAS MARINE FISHERIES 
In accordance with plans outlined in 1925, an investigation of the 
biology of the important food fishes of coastal Texas has been under- 
taken. A field station has been established at Corpus Christi, Tex., 
where John C. Pearson, with the aid of a boat and crew furnished 
by the State fishery authorities, i is making extensive and systematic 
collections. Variations in the commercial fishery have been fol- 
66552—28——_2 
