FOURTEEN TELEOSTEAN FISHES AT BEAUFORT, N. C. 
419 
prevailed during the spawning season, has never been observed to exceed three 
days. Therefore, one week would appear to be a liberal estimate of the duration 
of the incubation period of spot eggs. 
If these deductions be approximately correct, it would follow, from the size and 
number of young in the collections, that at Beaufort some spawning may take place 
in November but that the principal spawning months are December and January, 
with diminished spawning activity in February. 
Ova of several sizes are present in well-developed ovaries which suggests that 
the eggs probably are cast, a few at a time, over a period of several weeks. It was 
noticed, furthermore, that the sexual organs general^ were further advanced in 
large individuals than in smaller ones in examinations made in October, which 
would indicate that the large fish spawn earlier than the smaller ones. This would 
lengthen the spawning season still further, causing it to extend, as already shown, 
probably during a part of November, throughout December and January, and 
possibly through at least a part of February. 
The foregoing deductions in regard to the spawning period at Beaufort and the 
place of spawning are not out of accord with recently published statements for other 
localities. Hildebrand and Schroeder (1928, p. 274) state that spawning takes place 
(in the Chesapeake Bay vicinity) during late fall and probably during the winter 
and, apparently, at sea. That spawning occurs at sea was thought to be the case, 
because a large exodus from the bay of big fish with maturing roe takes place each 
year during late September and in October. It may be noted here also that, although 
winter collecting with townets and other fine-meshed gear was rather vigorously 
pursued during the investigation on Chesapeake Bay, the smallest spots taken were 
15 millimeters long. It would seem, therefore, that the very small fry probably 
do not occur in the bay, in any considerable numbers, which is contrary to the situa- 
tion in the vicinity of Beaufort where the larvse are abundant in the inside waters, 
as already stated. 
Pearson (1929, p. 204) states that the spot spawns in the Gulf of Mexico in close 
proximity to the mouths of the passes that lead into the partly inclosed coastal bays, 
and that spawning occurs from late in December until the last of March. The spawn- 
ing season in Texas, therefore, would appear to be nearly identical with that at 
Beaufort. Mr. Pearson, apparently, did not take the eggs and presumably arrived 
at the conclusions given in regard to the place, time, and durations of spawning from 
the collection of young. 
DESCRIPTIONS OF YOUNG 
Specimens 1 .5 millimeters long . — In fish of this small size the yolk sac appears to 
be completely absorbed. The mouth is quite well developed and very oblique; the 
body decreases in depth posteriorly, coming to a sharp point. The fin fold is present 
but plainly visible only on the posterior part of the tail. A dark membrane (peri- 
toneum) lying above the air bladder (very distinct in slightly larger specimens) 
already is evident. Occasionally at this size there also is present a row of dark 
chromatophores along the ventral side, posterior to the vent, one on the middle of 
the side above the vent, and a few others on the head. The color markings become 
more definite in slightly larger fish. (Fig. 41.) 
Specimens 2.8 millimeters long . — Many specimens of this size and larger ones 
are before the writers. The mouth is very oblique to nearly vertical; the body 
anteriorly, with the apparently loosely joined visceral mass, is rather deep, and pos- 
teriorly it is very slender, ending in a sharp point. In the dorsal profile there is a 
