FISHES OF THE GULF OF MAINE 



143 



In north European seas capelin spawn from April until July; we have found 

 them spawning along the coast of Lahrador in multitudes in July in 1900. Prob- 

 ably April and May would cover such spawning as occurs in the Bay of Fundy. 

 The spawning act has been described variously. According to Lanman (1874, 

 p. 225) each female is accompanied by two males that crowd her between them. 

 The eo-gs are reddish and about 1 mm. in diameter, while the larvae are about 7 mm. 

 long at hatching. Larva? only 8 mm. in length have entirely absorbed the yolk, 

 the rudiments of the dorsal and anal fins are visible at 14 mm., while at 23" mm. 

 the adipose fin can be distinguished, the fin rays are formed, and the little capelin 

 is easily recognizable as such. 



The capelin so seldom appears in the Gulf of Maine that we need state of its 

 habits merely that, unlike the smelt, it is a fish of the high seas frequently encoun- 

 tered far out from land; it never enters fresh water; comes inshore only to spawn 

 and then as a rule moves out again; travels in vast schools at spawning tune, 



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Fig. 57.— Adult 



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Fig. 58 — Fry, 26 millimeters 

 SMELT (Osmerus mordax) 



when it often strands on the beach in countless multitudes; and that it is the 

 chief bait fish of Arctic seas, preyed upon by whales and every predaceous fish, 

 particularly by cod. Capelin themselves feed chiefly on small crustaceans, partic- 

 ularly copepods, euphausiid shrimps, and amphipods. It is also known to devour 

 its own eggs. We can bear witness that it is a delicious little fish on the table. 



60. Smelt (Osmerus mordax Mitchill) 



Salt-water smelt; Icefish 



Jordan and Evermann, 1S96-1900, p. 523. 



Description. — The smelt is distinguishable from all other fish common in our 

 waters by its slender form, long pointed head, the presence of a small but evident 



