1 1 4 AMERICAN FISHES. 



which became scarce in turn ; thus the Squeteague was enabled to recover 

 its grounci, and to resume its place in the food economy of the coast. To 

 what extent the disappearance or reappearance of the Squeteague is act- 

 ually connected with that of the bluefish it is impossible at present to state. 

 It is quite likely that other causes, at least, are concerned, with which we 

 are now unacquainted. 



The striped bass is also an associate of the Squeteague, which, though 

 essentially a coast and salt-water fish, occasionally runs into tidal waters, 

 and on the coast of New Jersey is thought to prefer the vicinity of streams 

 where there is a mixture of fresh and salt water. " He never goes into 

 fresh streams or ponds," wrote S. L. Mitchill, "but within the limits of 

 salt water is taken in almost all the places where the rock-fish is caught. 

 The Weakfish is so much the companion of the bass that I once gave him 

 the specific name of Comes." Prof. Baird has recorded that in Southern 

 New Jersey, where, at times, in consequence of drought there is less water 

 brought into Egg Harbor than usual, they are known to move to a con- 

 siderable distance up towards the head-waters, and to leave in a great 

 measure their ordinary grounds more seaward. 



We have intimations, in the writings of the early historians of New 

 England, of the disappearance and returns of the Weak-fish, like those 

 referred to in the present century. 



It is said that when they appear off the coast of New Jersey, about the 

 middle of June, they are found to be filled with spawn, and tliat the early 

 fish in Narragansett Bay have not spawned. This statement requires con- 

 firmation. Thousands of individuals have been examined by the Fish 

 Commission naturalists at different times in the summer, and it is but rare 

 that traces of spawn have been found. The precise period of spawning 

 along the coast and the localities where the eggs are laid, as well as the 

 habits of the fish during that period, are but little known, and are well 

 worthy of careful investigation. 



At Beasley's Point the young fish of the year have in August attained 

 a length of about four inches, and differ from the adults in lacking entirely 

 the characteristic spots, these being replaced by broad, vertical bands, 

 which, together with their more compressed form, render their appear- 

 ance very unlike that of the adult. 



The young are rarely seen in New England. Dr. Bean obtained a 

 single individual three and one half inches long in Herring River, 



