302 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
in from 12 to 14 hours after fertilization at temperatures of from 68° to 70° F. It seems probable, 
from the examination of the condition of the reproductive organs, that virtually all spawning takes 
place in Chesapeake Bay and vicinity during May, June, and July. The fish examined in May 
were nearly ripe, and no spent fish were seen. In June most of the fish examined still contained 
roe, but some spent fish also were seen, and as late as July 9 many of the fish examined had not 
yet spawned. 
No ripe squeteagues were observed in Chesapeake Bay, but as spawning is known to occur 
in Delaware Bay (Welsh and Breder, 1923, p. 150), it is probable that it also occurs around the 
entrance of the Chesapeake. Most of the spawning in this region is accomplished during May, 
June, and July. On May 21 we caught (with hook and line off Cape Charles city) 14 females and 
4 males, 14 to 18 inches in length, having nearly mature gonads. On May 24 many of the Norfolk 
market fish were distended with eggs or milt. On June 11 many fish had large roe, and some had 
already spawned. On June 27, at Buckroe Beach, 1,000 pounds of squeteagues just landed from 
near-by pound nets (mostly females, 10 to 13 inches in length) were full of spawn, which protruded 
through the thin wall of the abdomen. As late as July 9 many fish caught in the lower York River 
had not yet spawned. A large series of fish, both males and females, examined during October, 
1922, at Ocean View, Va., showed that individuals of 200 to 286 millimeters (about 8 to 11 x /i 
inches) would probably spawn for the first time the following spring. 
The young are reported to grow rapidly. However, observers do not agree with respect to the 
rapidity of their growth, and before it can be stated what the usual or average rate of growth is, 
further and more exhaustive studies must be made. Eigenmann (1902, p. 47) states that this fish 
reaches a “marketable size” in one year. However, it is not clear at which length this author 
considered the fish to have attained a marketable size. Welsh and Breder (1923) produce very 
limited data intended to show that a fish 30 millimeters long on July 1 may reach a length of 180 
millimeters by November 1. One of us (Hildebrand), working at Beaufort, N. C., found (unpub- 
lished), for example, that on about August 1 two definite size groups of young squeteague could be 
taken. The fish composing the group of youngest fish ranged from 50 to 120 millimeters in length. 
These fish were thought to be the young of the same season. The fish of the other group, representing 
Fig. 179. — Larva, 6.5 millimeters long 
Fio. 180.— Young, 32 millimeters long 
