35 2 SEVKMII REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



The upper parts are greenish ; a broad silvery band along the sides ; body and 

 fins with numerous minute dusky points. 



The Smelt grows to a length of I foot ; the average size as found in the markets 

 is about 7 inches. It enters the rivers for the purpose of spawning and is most 

 abundant in the winter and early spring months. Spawning takes place in the 

 Raritan River, N. J., in March. The eggs of the Smelt have been artificially 

 hatched by Mr. Ricardo, Fred Mather and other fish culturists. 



The Smelt begins to run into Gravesend Bay in December and remains during 

 cold weather. In the spring it ascends rivers to spawn. The eggs are small ( z / c inch 

 in diameter) and number 496,000 to the fluid quart ; they adhere to stones, twigs, 

 etc., on the bottom. Some females begin to spawn when only 3 or 4 inches long. 



Its range has been widely extended by artificial introduction, which is very easily 

 effected by transporting the fertilized eggs from the small brooks in which the 

 species spawns. 



In fish cultural operations " the spawning fish, of both sexes, are placed in 

 troughs, which are covered to exclude light, which is very injurious to the eggs. 

 The eggs are naturally laid and fertilized, and become attached to each other and to 

 the troughs. They are scooped up with a flat shovel, placed on wire trays in water, 

 and are forced through the meshes of the trays to separate them. They are 

 hatched in automatic shad jars, blanketed to exclude light. If during hatching the 

 eggs bunch, they are removed from the jars and again passed through the meshes 

 of the wire trays." 



The Smelt is an excellent food fish and is also used for bait, and still more 

 extensively as food for Landlocked Salmon, Lake and Brook Trout and other 

 important salmonoids, which are artificially reared in lakes. It has proved to be one 

 of the best fishes for this purpose. Immense quantities of Smelts are caught 

 during the winter months in nets, seines and by hook and line. They are usually 

 shipped to market in the frozen condition, packed in snow or crushed ice. The fish 

 which have not been frozen, however, are prized more highly than any others. 



The fry are hardy in transportation. 



In captivity the adults live till about the end of June, when the water becomes 

 too warm and they die. Their food consists mainly of shrimps and other small 

 crustaceans. 



