Gizzard shad declined in abundance from 1957 to 1959. The largest
population occurred at the middle station on the Marais des Cygnes in
1957. Shad were mainly in quiet water; often, when the river-level was
high, I found them predominately in backwaters or in the mouths of
tributary streams. Examination of nine individuals, ranging in size from
seven inches to 13.5 inches T. L., indicated that maturity is reached at
10 to 11 inches T. L. Spawning probably occurred in late June in 1959
("ripe" female caught on 26 June); young-of-the-year were first recorded
in mid-July.
#Cycleptus elongatus# (LeSueur)