THE SALMOHID^. 163 



meshes large enough to capture indiyiduals of ordinary size, 

 the nets having a finer mesli than tliose used for the mack- 

 erel fishery. 



The alewife and shad are said to be anadromous, from 

 their habit early in spring of visiting the coast and ascend- 

 ing rivers in vast numbers to spawn. The eggs are of mod- 

 erate size; the ovaries are said to contain about 25,000, and 

 at times as many as 100,000 or 150,000 eggs. They are dis- 

 charged near the surface, sinking slowly to the bottom. 

 The shad eats little or nothing in fresh watei-, being then 

 engaged in spawning. In the sea they live on small shrimps. 

 The menhaden is now put up as a substitute for sardines. 



Fia. 206.— The Herring, Clupea hartngus, one third natural size. 



and is of great value as fish-bait, especially in the mackerel 

 fishery, and for its oil. 



The family Sahno7iidce comprises the salmon, trout, and 

 whitefisl), with a number of species and varieties. The 

 species of the genus Salmo have not more than eleven rays 

 to the anal fin, while the salmon of the west coast, qtdnnat, 

 has fifteen or sixteen anal rays. The eastern salmon {Salmo 

 salar) sometimes weighs eighty pounds. It is common to 

 Europe as well as Northeastern America. In the autumn 

 the salmon ascends rivers to spawn, penetrating as near 

 the source as possible. During the breeding season the 

 males differ decidedly from the females, in the long, slen- 

 der, hooked snout, the body being thin and high-colored. 

 The eggs are very large, exceeding a pea in size, and are 



