632 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Although the eggs were very numerous in the tow at times during the spawning 
season, the larvae were not found, notwithstanding that an extensive search was made 
for them. The smallest young taken in nature was 18 mm long. Therefore, nothing 
can be reported at this time on the habitat and distribution of the larvae. 
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE EGGS AND YOUNG 
The eggs are spherical, richly supplied with oil globules, and float at the surface. 
According to 200 unfertilized eggs, spawned in a tank on two different dates (the 
product of two or more fish), the diameter varies from 0.66 to 0.84 mm, the average 
being 0.73 mm. Eggs especially selected for range in size from several hundred taken 
in the tow, and in an advanced cleavage stage when measured, ranged in diameter 
from 0.67 to 0.71 mm. 
The oil globules are variable in number, as few as 15 and as many as 34 having 
been counted. They also are variable in distribution, sometimes lying close together, 
giving the egg a beaded appearance, and sometimes more or less uniformity distributed 
over the surface of the egg. They also vary in size from very minute dots to about 
0.06 mm in diameter. The variation in position, number, and size is shown, at least 
in part, in the accompanying drawings. The large number of oil gloubles give the 
egg buoyancy. No perivitalline space is noticeable (fig. 142). 
Figure 142 — A.chirus fascialm. From egg with fully formed Figure 143 .— Achirm fasciatus. From egg in 2-cell stage; 
blastodisc. about half hour after fertilization. 
The eggs, though quite transparent, have a slight greenish tinge (described as 
yellowish by Albert Kuntz, MS.) This color seems to be contained in minute yolk 
granules, discernible under rather high magnification (fig. 143). 
Cell division proceeds rapidly after fertilization. Eggs collected between 7:30 
and 8 p. m. (May 20, 1931), quite surely spawned after 6 p. m. of the same day, 
ranged from four-cell to many-cell stages when examined in the laboratory at 8:30 
p. m. on the same evening (figs. 144 to 147). An hour later, or from about 2 to 3 
hours after fertilization, all had reached advanced cleavage stages (fig. 147). 
On the morning of the following day, or about 13 to 14 hours after fertilization, 
the eggs contained well-outlined embryos, with eyes just becoming visible, the stage 
showing the embryonic streak having been passed in the meantime (figs. 148 and 149). 
About 20 hours after fertilization the embryo extended;almost two-thirds the distance 
