THE STRIPED BASS 



one fisherman caught, near Fire Island, New York, 

 in eight days over 10,000 pounds, averaging from 

 1000 to 1500 pounds per day. One New London 

 fisherman caught 1 85, in three hours, in 1 875, with 

 a single hook and line. Near Norfolk, Virginia, 

 1 500 have been taken in a single seine, and there is 

 a record of 600 taken in this manner, averaging 

 eighty pounds each ; and there is no evidence to 

 show they are decreasing in number. 



The best season for fishing for the striped bass is 

 during the months of March, April, and May, al- 

 though they are said to be the best eating in Sep- 

 tember, October, and November. They stay in our 

 waters throughout the year, although disliking a 

 temperature above 65°, and they do not enter into 

 a state of torpidity in winter. 



They pass most of their time in salt water, but 

 in the spring ascend the rivers to spawn ; but their 

 eggs are often deposited quite near the ocean in 

 brackish or salt water. The number that may be 

 deposited by a single fish is enormous. A fish 

 weighing only twelve pounds has been known to 

 deposit 1,280,000 good eggs. The eggs are free, 

 transparent, and semi-buoyant, about one-seventh 

 of an inch in diameter, and number about 24,000 

 to the quart. At a temperature of 58° F., they 

 will hatch out in about three days. They spawn 

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