94 



AMERICAN FISHES. 



The Northern Scup rarely passes the boundary of Cape Cod ; in 1878, 

 however, thirty-seven were taken at the Milk Island weir off Thatcher's 

 Island, Cape Ann, Mass., and they appear to be increasing in abundance. 



This species does not appear to be indigenous north of Cape Cod. 

 Storer states that in the year 1831 or 1832 a smack-load of Scuppaugs 

 arrived in Boston. A portion of them were purchased by subscription 

 among the fishermen in the market and thrown into the harbor, and that 

 in 1834 or 1835 Capt. Downes carried a smack-load from A^ineyard Sound 

 and threw them overboard in Plymouth Harbor. From i860 to 1867 

 small numbers appeared north of Cape Cod, and were yearly captured at 

 Wellfleet and Sandwich. 



Judging from the rare occurrence of the species thus introduced, it can 

 hardly be considered to have become naturalized ; the few which have 

 been taken were doubtless summer stragglers, although in 1S7S over one 

 hundred were taken at Capt. Webb's weir on Milk Island. 



The life history of the Scuppaug has been thoroughly worked out by 

 Prof. Baird, and from his paper published in the first volume of the report 

 of the U. S. Fish Commission, the following life-history is compiled : 



"■ It makes its appearance, at least in considerable quantity, en the 

 coast of New England about the middle of May, although the advance- 

 guard of very large fish arrive sometimes as early as the middle of April; 

 and it is most abundant toward the ist of June, and arrives in successive 

 detachments or ' runs ' difi'ering in size, the smallest fish coming last. The 

 first run on the southern coast of New England, as stated, takes place 

 about the beginning of May, and consists of large breeding fish, weighing 

 from two to four pounds, and measuring up to eighteen inches or more in 

 length. The spawn is quite well developed at that time, and is said to be 

 at first red, but gradually to become light yellow as it matures. The 

 particular time and place, however, of laying the eggs is not yet known, 

 although it is probable that this occurs early in June, since the schools are 

 said to break up about the middle of that month, and the fish to scatter. 

 It is thought probable that the spawning takes place in the eel-grass 

 which covers the shoal water of Narragansett Bay and Vineyard Sound. 



"According to the fishermen generally, the Scup on first coming into 

 the shores do not take the hook readily, being apparently too much occu- 

 pied in the business of reproduction, and two weeks usually elapse before 

 they can be caught in this way. They present themselves in large schools 

 of immense extent, and moving very slowly, at about the rate of three 

 miles an hour. From the testimony presented before the committe of 

 investigation of the Rhode Island legislature, they appear to come from 

 the south and west, as when they enter Narragansett Bay they strike the 



