96 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



Food: Minute animal and vegetable organisms, particularly small crus- 

 taceans. Several have been found with young lobsters f-inch long in 

 their stomachs. Copepods, other free-swimming crustaceans and in- 

 sects, are frequently eaten. Often mud, algse, and diatoms from the 

 bottom are found in their stomachs. These facts indicate that they feed 

 both at the surface of the water and at the bottom. Fishes and fish 

 eggs are sometimes eaten. Kendall gives in detail the results of the ex- 

 amination of the stomach contents of several hundred specimens taken 

 at Woods Hole at different times between April and December (Ken- 

 dall, 1901). 



Rate OF Growth: Growth of the young is very rapid. At time of hatch- 

 ing, July 26, 1908, average length of a large number of specimens was 

 i-inch (3.85 mm.). These were incubated in a filter car at the Wickford 

 Experiment Station. On August 15th, the average of a large number 

 of specimens from the same lot was f inch (9.3 mm). Average of spec- 

 imens taken from another lot hatched at the same time was ^-inch (11.72 

 mm.) on the same date. (For complete figures see Report, R. I. Fish 

 Com., 39, 1908, 100.) 



Growth under natural conditions is probably much more rapid. Specimens 

 from an inch or less in length up to individuals of nearly adult size are 

 constantly present through August and September. This is doubtless 

 the result of the long spawning season of the species. It also probably 

 indicates that many Menidia may grow to adult size in one year. On 

 August 11, 1909, seine, Cornelius Island, average of 45 specimens was li 

 inches (45.9 mm.), ranging from 1 inch (26 mm.) to 2? inches (65 mm.). 

 One specimen three inches long, (76 mm.). Two inches was the average 

 of 58 specimens taken on August 12, 1909, in seine at Cornelius Island, 

 ranging from 1§ inches (35 mm), to 2|-inches (60 mm.). Average of 77 

 specimens taken August 13, 1909, in seine at Cornelius Island was 1? 

 inches (40.6 mm.) ranging from ^-inch (21 mm.) to 4 inches (100 mm.). 

 Seal took s^oecimens 1^ to 5 inches at St. Jerome, Maryland, September 

 20, 1889. (Bean,1891.) 



MUGILID^. The Mullets. 



74. Mugil cephalus (Linnseus). Striped Mullet; Jumping Mullet. 



Geog. Dist.: Atlantic coast. Cape Cod to Brazil. Pacific coast, Monterey 

 to Chili. Reported from Maine, at Wolfsneck, Casco Bay (Kendall, 

 1903, and Smith, 1902), from Massachusetts, Provincetown (Storer, 

 1852 and 1853), Woods Hole (Baird, 1873, Bean, 1880, and Smith, 1898). 



