THE SALMOJSIB^. 
163 
meshes large enough to capture individuals of ordinary size, 
the nets having a finer mesh than those used for the mack- 
erel fishery. 
The alewife and shad are said to be anadromoiis^ 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 water, being then 
engaged in spawning. In the sea they live on small shrimps. 
The menhaden is now put up as a substitute for sardines. 
Fig. 206.— The Herring, Clupea harengus, one third natural size. 
and is of great value as fish-bait, especially in the mackerel 
fishery, and for its oil. 
The family Salmonidce comprises the salmon, trout, and 
whitefisb, with a number of sj)ecies and varieties. The 
species of the genus Sahno have not more than eleven rays 
to the anal fin, while the salmon of the west coast, quinnat, 
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 
