NATURAL HISTORY OF THE STAR-FISH. 
209 
VII. At what season of the year do the star -fish spawn? If at a particular season , 
a special effort should, he made to kill the animals before spawning , and thus destroy both 
stars and spawn. 
I have attempted by two methods to determine the spawning season of the star- 
fishes in the upper portion of Narragausett Bay and at Woods Hole. The first method 
consisted in examining a large number of adult stars at intervals during the year, to 
see if they contained ripe eggs and milt. The second method consisted in dragging a 
fine silk “tow net” at the surface of the water, to catch the free-swimming young. 
Most of the adult star fishes examined were obtained through the kindness of the 
oystermen in Kickemuit River, Mount Hope Bay, and the vicinity of Rocky Point. On 
July 19 and 22, 1897, 630 stars were carefully examined, and the sizes of specimens and 
of sexual glands were tabulated. The specimens ranged from 1J to 31 inches (taking 
distance from mouth to tip. of arm). Fifteen contained eggs or sperm apparently ripe. 
In some, only one arm contained ripe products. Roue of these apparently ripe speci- 
mens were smaller than 2 inches. In the "great majority the sexual glands were 
small, less than one-half the length of the arm. During the remainder of the summer, 
stars from these localities were frequently examined, and occasionally one was found 
with ripe eggs, but there was no general increase in the size of the glands. 
On November 15 a lot of stars from Rocky Point was examined. They were nearly 
uniform in size, and measured about 3 inches. In about half of these specimens the 
glands were half the length of the arm, but none were ripe. Among the 75 specimens, 
measuring approximately 3 inches, collected at the same place November 29, 14 seemed 
to be nearly mature; the glands in 44 others were half the length of the arm; the 
remainder had small and immature glands. 
January 6, 1898, Rocky Point: About 40 stars, 34 to 4 inches in length, were 
examined. Only 4 had sexual products which seemed to be nearly ripe, while the 
majority seemed less mature than in November. 
January 7, Kickemuit River: 50 stars ranging between 24 and 34 inches (4 speci- 
mens measured 4 inches). In 20 specimens the glands were considerably developed, 
but not nearly ripe. In the remaining 30 they were quite small. 
January 15, Kickemuit River: 50 stars, measuring from 24 to 34 inches were 
examined. In general, there was, perhaps, a slight increase in size of glands, though 
in over 30 they were very small. 
February 9, Rocky Point: 126 stars, 24 to 4 inches long. In 3 the sexual products 
were ripe; in 10, nearly ripe; in 53, large and turning color, becoming slightly pink; 
in 47, small, but showing signs of seasonal development; in 12, very small. 
February 12, Kickemuit River: 63 specimens, measuring from 2 to 34 inches. In 
6 the glands were large and beginning to show a pink color; 39 showed seasonal 
development, while IS were very small. 
March 4, Kickemuit River and Mount Hope Bay: 39 specimens, 24 to 34 inches in 
length; 1 was apparently quite ripe; 26 seemed nearly ripe; the glands in 7 were 
beginning to change color; in 3 immature but showing seasonal development ; in only 
2 specimens were the glands very small. 
March 7, Rocky Point: 99 specimens, measuring 2 to 34 inches; 5 were apparently 
fully ripe; 71 nearly ripe (very large glands); in 20 the glands showed the pink color 
slightly; in 2 the glands were small, but showed seasonal development; only 1 had 
very small glands. 
V. C. B. 1899 — 
