THE MULLET FISHERY. 557 



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lowed by smaller individuals known as " frost mullet," which remain throughout the greater part 

 of the winter. The movement seems to be general along the entire coast, all fish along the Atlan- 

 tic seaboard being reported as traveling southward, while those rounding Florida Keys continue 

 their coastwise migrations, gradually working northward and westward towards the Texas line. 

 No return movement is reported at any season along the Atlantic, though in the Gulf, after the 

 spawning season is over, the fish are said to return toward Key West. 



The movements of the fish are thought to be considerably affected by tides, currents, and 

 storms; and in many localities the fishermen assert that the schools often remain in considerable 

 numbers about the inlets of the bays on the flood-tide and pass out on the ebb. This is doubtless 

 true to a considerable extent before the migratory season begins, but when this occurs the mullet 

 seldom remain long in one locality. 



During stormy weather, when the sea is rough, the fish seek the inland channels for protec- 

 tion, but during pleasant weather they are equally or even more abundant along the outer beach. 

 They are said to move most rapidly during the continuance of heavy northerly winds, the signal 

 for a southerly movement being a cold storm from this quarter. When the weather moderates 

 they slacken their speed and become more scattered, many of the fishermen contending that they 

 are then swimming about in search of food. During pleasant weather they swim at or near the sur- 

 face, when their presence can be readily detected by the ripple caused by their movement through 

 the water, or by the constant splashing and jumping. Their approach is frequently heralded by 

 the flocks of water-birds that hover over them, and by the sharks and porpoises that gather to 

 feed npon and destroy them. Mr. Stearns, in referring to this subject, says: "During the fall 

 they move in such immense schools that the noise of their splashing resembles distant thunder, 

 and to persons living near the bay this noise, kept up day and night, becomes very annoying." 

 "These schools," he continues, "are followed by large numbers of sharks, porpoises, and other 

 destructive fishes, as well as pelicans and similar sea-birds, that eat mullet until they can eat no 

 more and have to make way for fresh arrivals." 



In New Jersey waters the mullet make their appearance in schools about the 1st of September, 

 gradually working southward and entirely disappearing by the last of October. The same is true 

 for the coast between Cape May and Cape Henry, including the waters of Chesapeake Bay. 



The small fish are seen in June on the North Carolina coast, these gradually increasing in 

 numbers until the first of August, when the schools have attained considerable size, but thus far 

 no tendency to migrate is noticeable. A little later a southern movement begins, and school after 

 school passes, the size of the individuals constantly increasing till the first of September, when 

 the old or roe-mullet arrive. These often weigh from 3 to 4 pounds, and measure upwards of 20 

 inches. If the weather continues pleasant they remain about the shores until the eggs have be- 

 come well developed before moving southward, but at the approach of the first cold storm they are 

 off and other smaller individuals follow in their wake, so that by the first of January the greater 

 part have disappeared. Comparatively few are seen from that date till the following June, though 

 scattering ones may be taken at any time. They run best and most rapidly during stormy weather, 

 but will not move much against a head wind or sea. The schools vary greatly in size, the average 

 containing from 20 to 25 barrels of fish, though schools of 1,000 barrels are reported as not uncom- 

 mon, and GOO barrels were landed at one haul of the seine, near Beaufort, in 1849. 



At Wilmington small mullet are occasionally taken at any season, though they are abundant 

 from June to September only, and large ones are seen only in the fall. As at Beaufort, the mi- 

 grations begin about the middle of August. The first schools are composed of fish of medium 

 size, known to the fishermen as " 1 J-inch mullet," from the size of the mesh in which they are taken. 



