500 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the fish is comparatively scarce, and in others it is extremely 

 abundant. It is caught in pounds and traps, and remains in 

 Great South bay till cold weather sets in. It has been taken 

 on Cape Cod as late as December 10. Sometimes a sudden cold 

 spell kills the fish in large numbers. 



In 1890 we found only a few specimens at Fire Island and at 

 East Island, late in September, and on October 1 a few examples 

 were taken in a trap at Islip. In 1898, adults were taken in 

 moderate numbers off Southampton, August 3. Half grown 

 specimens were obtained at Islip, August 18. A single young 

 individual was seined at Nichols's Point, September 1, and a 

 moderate number of young, about 2 inches long, were secured 

 at the east side of Fire Island inlet, September 16. In 1901 small 

 scup, about 6 inches long, were obtained in a gill net, August 13, 

 and in Watts's pound, July 31, in Clam Pond cove. 



The scup arrives in Gravesend bay in May, and is taken as late 

 as November. In captivity it lives till December, and in prop- 

 erly heated water it can be kept indefinitely. It is thrifty, and 

 is seldom in bad condition. 



At Woods Hole Mass, according to Dr Smith, the fish appears 

 about May 1 and leaves about October 15 or 20, being most 

 abundant in June and July. Spawning occurs during first part 

 of June, and young -| inch to - inch long are observed by the 

 middle of July. The eggs are -fa inch in diameter and hatch in 

 four days at a mean temperature of 62 F. In 1900, the scup 

 arrived off Newport April 21, at Cutty Hunk April 26, and at 

 Woods Hole May 1. Hundreds of young are killed there an- 

 nually by a sudden fall of temperature. The growth of the 

 young is recorded by Sherwood and Edwards as follows: July 

 3, length ^ to 1-| inches; August 2, 1^ to 2 inches; September 6, 

 2 to 3 inches; September 29, 3 to 4 inches; November 1, 4 inches. 

 The largest individual observed weighed 3 pounds. 



The young are devoured in large numbers by cod, weakfish, 

 bluefish and other predaceous species. 



