692 CLARENCE L. TURNER 
IV. HISTORY OF THE GERM CELLS 
1. Resting stage and period of migration 
A cord of germ cells outside of the testis was found in a single 
specimen which was killed on May 5. Unfortunately, this was 
the only fish taken at this date and, though the cord has been 
sought in specimens taken at other dates, it has not been found. 
Consequently, further investigation of this point must be post- 
poned until a time which will again furnish favorable material. 
In this specimen there were no less than 5400 germ cells by 
actual count. The cells, imbedded in a connective-tissue ma- 
trix, varied in size as well as in shape (fig. 27). Most of them 
were apparently at rest, although the irregular shape of some 
seemed to indicate migration. No dividing cells were found 
among them. 
In these cells the cytoplasm is hyalin or reticular and stains 
very lightly. The nuclei vary in shape, some being spherical, 
others oval, and a few irregular, having a marked indentation 
on one side. The plasmosome is a conspicuous object and lies 
near the nuclear wall. Most nuclei contain a single plasmosome, 
but it is not unusual to find two. The chromatin is well dis- 
tributed, being scattered along the linin threads and massed 
together in some places to form chromatin knots. The linin 
threads appear to be in contact with the nuclear wall and radiate 
from the region occupied by the plasmosome. 
The actual migration of the germ cells from this cord is as- 
sumed upon the grounds of the following observations: 
1. Germ cells are found in various locations at different 
periods. 
a. A mass of germ cells larger than any other to be found at. 
that time occurs in the cord outside of the testis (fig. 27, fig. 31, 
a and b). The question as to whether there is a progressive 
depletion of the germ cells in the cord could not be settled be- 
cause material was not preserved which would show this point. 
b. Germ cells of a peculiar shape are found along the septa of 
the lobules from the center to the periphery of the testis during 
the time in which clusters of germ cells are formed and increased 
at the periphery of the testis (fig. 32). 
