FOOD OF THE GULF MENHADEN. 577 



not seem to suffer physically from the company of this parasite, but 1 have fancied that it was to 

 get rid of them that the fish visit fresh water. I have noticed no other parasites upon them. 



Eepkodxjction. — " The first traces of spawn are found in May. By July it has become suffi- 

 ciently developed to be noticed by any person unaccustomed to the examination of such objects. 

 In the latter part of September or first of October, at which time they are last seen in abund- 

 ance, the ovaries are sufficiently grown to distend the fish's abdomen, yet not fully ripe. When 

 they are next caught, in November and December, on the sea-beach, they are without ovaries 

 and show signs of having spawned. y 



Food. — "The Gulf Menhaden are bottom-feeding fish, as their stomachs always contain soft 

 brown mud, from which I suppose it extracts microscopic animal or vegetable matter. Some 

 believe that it gains its nourishment in the shape of animalculse from the water, as it swims along 

 with its mouth open, straining water through its gills. It is not a food-fish. A few trials have 

 been made to use them as bait for deep-sea fish, such as red snappers, groupers, etc. Such 

 experiments have proved successful." 

 37 F 



