SEA-EISHEKJES LABORATORY. 201 



case like the solenette and sole. The sprat differs from 

 the herring of its own size in having a row of prickles 

 along the edge of the belly. It is a full-grown fish, and 

 produces ripe spawn when it is about three inches long, 

 whereas the herring does not become mature till it is over 

 eight inches long. The eggs of the herring sink to the 

 bottom when they are spawned. The eggs of the sprat 

 float on the surface. 



Seventh Day. 



The Shrimp and Crab. 



The Shrimp . — The stomach, liver, ovaries and 

 testes. 



Breeding of the Shrimp . — Difference 

 betweeu the male and female shrimp. 



All shrimps carrying "berries," or eggs, are females. 

 The males never carry berries. All shrimps without eggs 

 are not males however, for some may be females which 

 have hatched out their eggs. The males are always 

 smaller than the females, and not so numerous ; but the 

 only certain way to tell the sex is to examine their legs. 

 The fifth pair of legs, counting from the tail, are different 

 in male and female. 



Also, if the shrimp is opened up, and the generative 

 organs examined, it will be seen that the male produces 

 sperms, while the female produces eggs. 



Spawning . — The shrimp spawns twice in the 

 year — in the late spring and in the autumn. When it 

 spawns the eggs pass out of the ovaries and become 

 fastened on to the legs. The mother then carries them 

 till they hatch out, which takes place some months after 

 spawning. When newly spawned the eggs are white, but 

 the nearer they are to hatching the darker they become. 



