 Spawning grounds are usually freshwater feeder streams and creeks along the upper reaches of estuaries and coastal rivers. Ideally, these small streams are sheltered by trees and have high dissolved oxygen, an important variable in embryonic development. (All tributary rivers and streams along the Potomac estuary up to Little Falls are spawning grounds for species of anadromous fish.)
The play: A player begins the game as fertilized herring and alewive eggs, left to chance by the adults. Gravid females lay eggs. A mature female can lay as many as 100,000 eggs. A male fish  accompanies the female to fertilize the eggs. Typically, the female swims in a very tight circle over the gravel or sand bottom in the water near the bank, in a sort of mating ritual. The male is usually on the outside of the circle, swimming next to the female. As the female releases the eggs, the male releases the milt or semen into the water at the same time. At the end of the mating ritual, the male and female depart and the eggs are left to chance. As the eggs begin to float downstream, they will encounter perils, both natural and man-made.
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You are now ready to begin the game. Please select the number of players and a name for each player that will be used throughout the game. Press the button to Begin Playing!
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