24 INLAND FISHERIES. 



"The blae-fish is abundant in West Florida and as far west as the 

 Mississippi river, but is rare or not found at all in other parts of the 

 Gulf. At Pensacola and vicinity it is at certain seasons one of the 

 most important fishes of trade. Here it is caught only in seines and 

 when migrating, during the months of April, May, June, November and 

 December. It usually appears on the coast in April — sometimes a 

 little sooner — and comes from the northeast, swimming directly in 

 from deep water, or parallel to the land, according to the condition of 

 the sea. It sometimes swims near the surface, either to sport or prey 

 upon smaller surface-swimming fishes, but more commonly at some 

 depth in shoal water along the beach. Many schools are observed 

 through the months of April, May and June approaching the land 

 from the eastward, and it is supposed that there are several distinct 

 'runs' in that period. These 'runs' take place every year, although 

 much larger some 3^ears than others. It is usually the case that the 

 fish arriving in the spring are small, averaging two and a half pounds 

 weight, and that those caught in the fall are larger, averaging four 

 pounds or more. A few very large individuals are found in both 

 seasons. 



" In May and June blue-fish enter the bays. They remain for some 

 days in the swift tideways when inside, and then disappear almost 

 entirely from observation. A few are taken through the summer with 

 hook and line in the bays and at sea. Excepting the smallest ones, all 

 the blue-fish contain spawn when they arrive in the spring. With the 

 larger fish the spawn is nearly ripe, and with the small and intermediate 

 size is found in nearly all stages. 



April 29, 1879, 1 examined two female blue-fish, weighing seven and 

 eight pounds, and found spawn almost ripe enough to flow from the 

 oviduct. The same day others, smaller ones, were examined, in which 

 the ovaries were scarcely visible. The spawning season of the blue- 

 fish includes several months, I think, which are May, June, July, and 

 August. 



" There can be no doubt of its spawning in the bays, sounds, and 

 bayous, as all evidence gained goes so far to prove it. On June 18, 



