GO INLAND FISHERIES. 



two arms, may, under ordinary circumstances, grow as rapidly as 

 complete stars. The g-rowth of the new arms, in the starfish ex- 

 Ijerimeuted upon, was slightly more rapid than that of the original 

 arms, showing a tendency in the organism to return to the original 

 length. In four months from time of setting, some of the larger 

 stars kept in the cars under favorable circumstances attained a 

 length of from 50 to 54 mm., or 2 to 2^ inches, measured from 

 mouth to tip of arm. This is more than twice the length of many of 

 the stars which were found just before the beginning of the breed- 

 ing season, and which were therefore at least nearly a year old. 



Allowing a moderate amount of growth during the winter and 

 spring months, of 10 to 15 mm. (the amount of increase attained in 

 one full month preceding October 12), the larger year-old starfish 

 in the early summer would be about 65 millimeters, or 2^ inches, 

 in length, which is about the length of the greater number of stars 

 taken on the mops in the Kickemuit Eiver during the summer. 

 (Fig. 19, a; 19, b.) 



Xiy, ^Vhat is the size and age at sexual maturity f 



Among the starfish caught in various parts of the Bay on June 

 2, 3, and 4, several specimens only 1^ inches, or 32 mm., were 

 found to be very full of sexual products. This size was attained 

 by many of the starfish reared in the car on September 26, about 

 three months from time of setting. See table on page 60. Great 

 numbers of stars, measuring about 2 inches, or 50 millimeters, 

 were found ripe the first week of June. This was the size of 

 several specimens in the car on October 25, which were not more 

 than four months old, and whose sexual glands were well de- 

 veloped. In other words, a large number of the starfish reared in 

 the car were by the end of October as large as a great many which 

 were sexually mature in June. Moreover, it was rare to find a 

 specimen of this size on the first of June which was not full of ripe 

 eggs which were laid later, as the empty stai-fish caught in July 

 showed. It is an ol)vious conclusion, therefore, that, with fairly 



