THE TARPON 39 



out at sea, but this does not preclude an anadromous 

 migration taking place. 



' ' The spawning migrants appear to migrate towards the 

 coast before spawning takes place, but the spawning 

 region is sufficiently far from the Coast to demand a de- 

 natent drift of the eggs and larvae to the Coast where the 

 early life is spent. After metamorphosis the young stages 

 are passed in comparatively shallow water. The life his- 

 tory of these fish may be said to be, therefore, and it ap- 

 plies as well to the bathypelagic Pterothrissus; a denatent 

 drift of the egg and larvae to or towards the shore ; after 

 a season spent in shallow water a short contranatent 

 migration, a return denatent migration, a stronger con- 

 tranatent movement into deep water and, finally, a spawn- 

 ing migration, which, as has been said, is probably an 

 anadromous one from the oceanic region of dispersal. ' ' 

 An accomplished and sound authority. Dr. J. T. Nichols, 



of New York, to whom this matter was submitted, wrote the 



following comments on Dr. Meek's text: 



"I take it the theory is something as follows : 

 "When about to spawn, the fish migrate towards the 

 coast but the eggs are actually deposited rather off-shore, 

 though after or at about this time the adult fish enter the 

 mouths of rivers. WTien the eggs hatch the young drift in- 

 shore and are found near shore, presently moving off- 

 shore again. They move in-shore for the second time when 

 of fairly good size, but move well off-shore for the second 

 time to attain their final growth before coming in as 

 adults." 

 The following article is from Copeia, of April 25, 1921. 



Dauphin Island is situate on the south side of Mississippi 



Sound in Alabama. 



