210 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
From the meager data available it appears that temperature influences the 
spawning of the razor clam very much as it does the oyster. During the winter 
the gonads are very small; they consist of a series of tubules lying among the 
muscle bundles of the foot and about the intestine. After the first rise in tem- 
perature in the spring the gonads increase in size. They gradually distend the 
visceral mass until they form about 30 per cent of the total body weight and cause 
a decided gape in the shell. The eggs and sperm are contained in follicles within 
the tubules. Shortly before spawning it appears that the follicle walls are rup- 
tured or disappear, and the reproductive products are then free within the tubules. 
Wliile more data would be desirable, available records indicate that the tem- 
perature of the water over the beds is closely related to the act of spawning. It is 
known that a high temperature is accompanied by rapid spawning of the clam, 
and a drop in temperature arrests progress. During the season of 1923 the 
Fig. 8. — Showing water temperatures at Copalls during the seasons of 1923 and 1924. The rise 
of temperature that immediately preceded spawning in both cases is indicated between the 
square dots (■ — ■) 
temperature of the water over the beds at Copalis rose steadily from 8° C. on 
March 27 to 11.5° C. on Maj^ 20. During this time there has been a constajit 
increase in the size of the gonads but no active spawning. Between the taking of 
the temperature at 6 a. m. on May 29 and a similar time the following day there 
was a rise in temperature from 11.4 to 13.1° C. (See fig. 8.) Spawning started 
quickly and with great vigor. There was no appreciable drop in temperature, and 
spawning was nearly complete in two days. Some eggs remained in the gonads, 
but they were few in number compared with the great mass that had been cast. 
The following year (1924) spawning started 14 days later. The temperature 
of the inshore water, as well as that at the Columbia River Lightship off the mouth 
of the Columbia Eiver, was more variable than that of the previous year. Again 
spawning started immediately following a rise in temperature, which in this case 
was from 12.8 to 15.3° C. Two days later the temperature dropped sharply to 
12.6° C, accompanied by a greatly reduced rate of spawning. Less spawn was cast 
