486 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
at least 75 millimeters is attained. The margin of this flap rarely extends slightly 
but never prominently beyond the tip of the ventral spine. 
DISTRIBUTION OF YOUNG 
The fry first appeared in the tow in May when only a few were taken and three 
young — 5, 7, and 10 millimeters long — were collected as late as December 6 (1927). 
The last-mentioned specimens certainly may be considered stragglers, for they are 
the only foolfish of any age or size taken in December. Young foolfish were common 
in June, July, August, and September. They were most numerous, however, in 
July. These data are interpreted to indicate, then, that spawning may occur from 
May to about November, that the principal spawning season extends from June to 
September and that it probably is at its height during July. Neither the young nor 
the adults have been found in the local waters during the winter. 
Small fry were not found in the inside waters. Only three specimens, all over 7 
millimeters in length, were taken in townets within Beaufort Harbor and adjacent 
waters, all the others (over 300 specimens) having been secured outside. It is quite 
certain, therefore, that nearly all the young, locally, are hatched at sea. 
The young were never taken in large numbers in any one haul. They were caught 
frequently, however, and generally only one or a few at a time. This seems to show 
that the young, like the adults, are solitary. 
The young, exclusive of the very smallest ones, were taken at the surface much 
more frequently than on the bottom. For example, in an approximately equal 
number of hauls made with two 1-meter townets, hauled simultaneously, one at the 
surface and the other at the bottom, specimens of foolfish were taken in 80 surface 
towings and in only 12 bottom ones. Since the bottom net remained open as it was 
hauled in, it is quite possible that some of the specimens contained in this net were 
not caught on the bottom. It is interesting and worthy of note, however, that of the 
smallest larvae secured — that is, fry of 3 millimeters and less in length, of which 
about 15 specimens are at hand — only 1 individual was taken in a surface haul, 
whereas only 9 larger ones were caught in bottom hauls. The results of this collecting 
appear to indicate that the recently hatched young occupy the bottom but come to 
the surface at a very early age. 
Foolfish are rather infrequently taken locally in otter trawls, a type of net that 
fishes the bottom, and generally is hauled in water at least several feet deep. Indi- 
viduals ranging from 25 millimeters upward are common in shallow grassy areas in 
the harbor during the summer, and they are also seen at sea swimming about or among 
floating plants. It is evident from the foregoing facts that the foolfish acquires its 
surface-dwelling habit at a very early age. It appears to retain this habit throughout 
life. 
GROWTH 
Measurements for the determination of the rate of growth have not been made 
and little information on this subject has been secured. Fish ranging from about 15 
to 60 millimeters in length are common in collections made with seines in Beaufort 
Harbor during September. It is believed that the larger individuals, namely, those 
ranging from about 50 to 60 millimeters (2 to 2% inches or so) in length are repre- 
sentatives of the earliest and largest young of the season. Upon the approach of 
cool weather in the autumn the fish withdraw from the shallow shore waters and 
