SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



smallest known examples were obtained at the surface off shore by the U. S. Fish 

 Commission. The writer has seined individuals a little more than an inch long 

 at Ocean City, N. J., the last of August. The young ascend rivers into fresh 

 water. 



This is one of the most destructive of all fishes!" It feeds ravenously, and, when 

 gorged with food, continues to destroy its victims for the sake of gratifying its kill- 

 ing propensity. If follows the great schools of Alewives, Weakfish, Mullets and 

 other valuable food fishes along our coast in summer, and the young may be dis- 

 covered in shallow bays and sounds, pursuing the Silversides, young Herring, 

 Anchovies and other fishes smaller than themselves. According to DeKay Bluefish 

 were unknown on the New York coast till about 1810, when a few appeared. In 

 1815 Dr. Mitchill wrote: " Young ones are taken plentifully with the hook at our 

 wharves by the boys in August." The largest mentioned by Mitchill was 13 inches 

 long, 3 inches deep and weighed about 14 ounces. The name Bluefish was in use at 

 the time of Mitchill's report. 



DeKay noticed the gradual disappearance of the Weakfish with the increasing 

 abundance of Bluefish. 



The best known methods of taking Bluefish are by trolling at the surface with a 

 squid of metal or bone and by heaving and hauling in the surf near the mouths of 

 streams into which Alewives are running. Artificial minnows are also used with a 

 light rod, when young Bluefish are seen feeding near the surface. The most recent 

 method in use by anglers is that of chumming in the manner usually employed in 

 Striped Bass fishing. This method, which involves the use of rod and reel, was in 

 use near the inlet at Fire Island early in October, 1890. During the summer, in 

 this bay, it was not an uncommon thing for anglers to catch 150 or 200 small 

 Bluefish with hook and line in a single day. The species is to be found in all parts 

 of the bay visited by us. It was taken at the following localities : Blue Point Cove, 

 Oak Island and Fire Island. Large numbers of Bluefish were caught late in 

 September by means of gill nets set in the ocean near Blue Point life-saving station. 

 A fisherman caught 450 at one time and 250 at another, the dates being September 

 23 and 24, 1890. In August of that year Bluefish drove immense schools of Round 

 Herring ( litritmcus feres) on the ocean beach, near the Life-saving station. Septem- 

 ber 24, while walking along the beach of East Island, not far from the Blue Point 

 station, in a distance of half a mile. I saw 51 Round Herring lying on the beach, 

 having been chased in a short time previously by Bluefish. When the fishermen 

 find the Round Herring on the shore, they know that Bluefish are present. Small 

 Bluefish were caught in a trap at Islip, October I, 1890. In the summer of 1898 



