EFFECTS OF THE MENHADEN AND MACKEREL FISHERIES. 289 
coast of North Carolina in the vicinity of Beaufort, however, revealed hardly any 
appreciable change in the conditions of the reproductive organs. 
It is the consensus of opinion among the fishermen of the Chesapeake that 
the ‘‘bay menhaden” spawn in February and March, and they present evidence 
to that effect. But they believe that the outside fish in late fall spawn at sea 
near the Gulf Stream or off the coast farther south. 
In May, 1908, there was received at the United States National Museum 
a portion of a menhaden the length of which indicated that the whole fish 
was about 13 inches long. It contained undoubtedly nearly ripe roe. It was 
caught in the Chesapeake on the 8th of April and was brought in to Solomons, 
Calvert County, Md. This suggests, at least, that the opinions and statements 
of the fishermen regarding the spring spawning of menhaden in the Chesapeake 
may be correct. 
The above-mentioned occurrence of large bodies of menhaden outside, 
apparently near spawning condition, suggests also a fall or early winter spawn- 
ing in that region, as do the data regarding the fish at North Truro. But the 
lack of knowledge regarding the length of time that would be required for the 
ova to mature prevents positive conclusions, for, instead of a few days or a week 
or two, a month or two or more might be necessary. The latter condition would 
bring the fish to maturity in February or March. In favor of the fall spawning, 
however, is the fact that a few undoubtedly recently spent fish were secured. 
The evidence derived from young fish is unsatisfactory, since very little is 
known of their rate of growth. Young menhaden are seldom seen in the Woods 
Hole (Mass.) region before July, when they range from 11% to 3 inches in length, 
more often from 1% to 2 inches. In November in the same locality they range 
from 2 to 5 inches in length, the majority being about 3 inches long, and all 
through the season there is another lot of immature fish, which, perhaps, average 
8 inches in length. 
In Chesapeake Bay young menhaden are said to appear in May, when they 
runfrom 1% to 2 inches in length. In March, 1894, young menhaden from 4 and 
5 to 6 and 8 inches long were collected, and again in July from 1% to 5 inches. 
This indicates that there are two stocks of young fish—the earlier, perhaps, from 
the breed of the previous fall, and the later and smaller from that of the spring 
of the same year. 
It has been suggested, because adult menhaden are seen far up bays and 
streams and the young are found still farther up, that the fish spawn in these 
localities; but there is nothing to indicate this. Fish, especially the young, run 
into shallow waters and often long distances up streams—even to the head- 
waters of small streams and creeks—probably, as has been previously stated, to 
escape enemies. 
The most that can be said regarding the spawning places of menhaden is 
that nothing is positively known. 
B. B. F. 1908—19 
