THE GARFISH FAMILY. 



401 



At Naples Mr H. C. Williamson procured the eggs abun- 

 dantly in May. 



Pig. 40. Eggs of the Garfish. A. T. M. 



In the Scandinavian Fishes it is stated that the garpike, 

 approaching the coast, spawns in spring and the early part of 

 summer, from April to June. The older fishes spawn first. 

 Ekstrbm observes, " This fish begins to spawn in the island-belt 

 of Morko. The males and females then ascend together in 

 large shoals to spots along the coast where the water is shallow. 

 I have never seen the roe of this fish in the water; but it is 

 probably deposited on the weeds, for it is always on a weedy 

 bottom that the garpike is found during the spawning- season. 

 The roe I have found, on cutting open specimens ready to 

 spawn, was fine greenish-yellow in colour." "According to 

 Benecke the eggs are from 3 to 8^ mm. in diameter, the surface 

 being covered with numerous hair-like filaments, some of them 

 1 cm. long, by means of which they anchor themselves. They 

 develop so quickly, and the fry grow so fast, that as early as 

 August we may find small garpike 1.50 mm. long (Malm), and 

 during the summer Fries took a specimen 170 mm. long." 

 After spawning they pass into the Baltic, but return in autumn 

 in fine condition*. It is clear, however, from the condition of 

 1 Scand. Fishes, pp. 351, 352. 

 M. F. 26 



