FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
91 
quently entering small brooks only a few feet wide and a few inches deep. “The alewives are 
very prolific. In the Potomac River, 644 female branch herring yielded 66,206,000 eggs, an 
average of 102,800 per fish; and probably 100,000 eggs may be taken as a fair average for the 
species. The eggs are 0.05 inches in diameter, and are very glutinous when first laid, adhering 
to brush, ropes, stones, piling, and other objects. The hatching period is six days in a mean 
water temperature of 60° F.” (Smith, 1907, p. 123.) 
The young grow rapidly, reaching an average length of about 55 millimeters (2% inches) by 
July 1, 65 millimeters (2j^j inches) by September 1, and 70 millimeters (2% inches) by December 
1. The individuals that stop in Chesapeake Bay during the first winter of their lives appear to 
grow very rapidly (possibly the explanations given on p. 88 for P. aestivalis apply to this species 
also) after entering the salt water, as specimens taken in the bay had attained an average length 
of about 105 millimeters (4j/£ inches) by February 1 and 120 millimeters (4% inches) by May 1. Fish 
taken in Chesapeake Bay, which apparently were in their second year, had reached a length of 
about 140 millimeters inches) by October 1 and 165 millimeters (6J^ inches) by March 1. 
It would appear that if this rate of growth is maintained the branch herring may reach its average 
maximum length of 11 inches in about four years. 
Length frequencies of 1,967 branch herring, “ Pomolobus pseudoharengns” 
[Measurements in millimeters, grouped in 5-mil!imeter intervals] 
Total 
length, 
milli- 
meters 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
1-15 
16-30 
1-15 
16-31 
1-15 
16-31 
1-15 
16-30 
1-15 
16-31 
1-15 
16-30 
1-15 
16-31 
1-15 
16-31 
1-15 
16-28 
1-15 
16-31 
1-15 
16-30 
1-15 
16-31 
30-34 
1 
2 
35-39 
2 
6 
. 

4(M4 
1 
45-49 
1 
2 
1 


50-54 
1 
3 
25 
6 
4 
3 
55-59 
1 
1 
4 
25 
14 
8 
8 
9 
15 
6 
2 
60-64 
11 
6 
14 
14 
33 
14 
27 
5 
6 
1 
65-69... 
1 
10 
2 
13 
18 
28 
11 
21 
21 
37 
3 
1 
70-74 
2 
2 
5 
7 
10 
5 
10 
1 
96 
9 
1 
75-79 
1 
4 
4 
4 
i 
37 
6 
1 
80-84. .. 
1 
3 
1 
4 
6 
2 
2 
2 
1 
85-89. . 
1 
3 
15 
2 
1 
6 
90-94 
2 
28 
11 
9 
19 
95-99 
36 
14 
25 
31 
1 
100-104 
2 
63 
38 
32 
67 
1 
105-109... 
i 
44 
35 
29 
48 
1 
2 
110-114 .. 
29 
38 
20 
52 
1 
1 
115-119 _. 
1 
25 
33 
20 
42 
3 
120-124 
1 
1 
25 
16 
12 
25 
3 
1 
125-129 
3 
13 
12 
14 
13 
1 
1 
1 
130-134 
1 
1 
11 
8 
10 
14 
1 
135-139 
.... 
1 
2 
9 
7 
10 
14 
1 
140-144 
2 
1 
5 
8 
5 
6 
1 
1 
145-149 .. 
.... 
i 
i 
1 
3 
6 
5 
12 
1 
i 
150-154 . 
i 
1 
2 
7 
2 
15 
1 
155-159 .. 
i 
1 
3 
8 
2 
8 
1 
100-164 .. 
2 
4 
12 
3 
9 
1 
165-169 
1 
2 
i 
4 
9 
3 
1 
170-174 . 
i 
i 
3 
12 
8 
175-179 .. 
i 
2 
5 
4 
1 
180-184 
I 
1 
2 
1 
1 
185-189 .. 
i 
1 
i 
3 
1 
190-194 . 
i 
i 
l 
195-199 .. 
1 
1 
220-224.. 
1 
Total __ 
7 
21 
5 
74 
31 
49 
47 
87 
54 
85 
41 
188 
19 
34 
301 
285 
202 
404 
9 
13 
8 
3 
The maximum length, attained by the branch herring is about 380 millimeters (15 inches) and 
the weight about 14 ounces. The average length of market examples, however, is only about 11 
inches and the average weight is about 8 ounces. 
The branch and glut herrings are both very abundant species in the Chesapeake region, probably 
occurring in about equal numbers. Since the branch herring arrive earlier than the glut herring, 
the earliest catches consist wholly of the former species, which is gradually replaced by the latter as 
