micron mesh neuston net. Eggs were also obtained from a striped bass hatchery 
run by the state of South Carolina at Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Eggs 
were air-shipped to the University of Rhode Island, where all experiments 
reported here were performed. 
Experimental Procedures 
For the duration of the relatively short incubation period, eggs were 
maintained in static 208 liter polyethylene drums filled with dechlorinated tap 
water. Best hatching success was observed when bacteria were controlled using 
an antibiotic. The antibiotic dosage used was 50,000 I.U./liter penicillin G plus 
50 mg/liter streptomycin sulfate. A strong air stream maintained the eggs in 
suspension and maintained an adequate dissolved oxygen level. Dead eggs 
floated to the surface and were removed as they were discovered. One-half of 
the volume of the tanks was replaced daily. Water temperature was maintained 
at laboratory room temperature, 14-16°C, during incubation. 
The experimental containers used in growth experiments consisted of four 
liter glass beakers. Prolarvae were stocked into these containers usually within 
24 hours of the time they were hatched. Larvae stocked at yolk absorption 
were held in their incubation containers until visible vestiges of yolk had 
disappeared. At stocking, all were of the same chronological age and had been 
exposed to the same conditions prior to the beginning of the experiment. No 
antibiotic was used in larval growth or survival experiments. The water used in 
all experiments was raised to 5°/oo salinity by mixing dechlorinated tap water 
with seawater (32°/oo, which had been passed through a cartridge filter rated 
to retain particles larger than 5 microns. Water in each container was changed 
every two days. 
Constant temperatures of 15, 18, 21, 24, and in some cases 27°C, were 
maintained in the test containers by keeping them immersed in temperature 
controlled water baths. Bath temperatures were controlled using Haake (model 
E-52) 1000 watt heater-thermoregulators operating against a cooling coil in 
each bath. Temperature excursions of no more than 0.25°C were normally 
encountered. The temperatures used span the range that might be encountered 
by developing larvae in nature. Bath temperatures were monitored on a 
strip-chart recorder and measured manually at least twice a day during the 
course of experiments. 
In initial experiments, dissolved, oxygen, pH, ammonia, and salinity 
measurements were made regularly. Dissolved oxygen was determined using the 
Y.S.I. D.O. probe, supplemented periodically with determinations using the 
azide-modification of the Winkler titration. The pH was measured using an 
Orion pH electrode. Ammonia was determined using a micro-modification of 
238 
