REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OP INLAND FISHERIES. 



101 



Calendar of Mackerel Season Off Newport, 1905-1909. 



1905. 



First caught in traps 



First large shipment from New- 

 port 



Most abundant. 



Record day 



Season ends at Newport . 



April 28. 



May 14. 



June 5 to 

 June 19. 



June 28. 



1906. 



1907. 



1908. 



May 4. 



May 14. 



June 4 to 

 June 30. 



June 4. 



Near end 

 of July. 



May 2. 



May 17. 



June 11 to 

 July 5. 



July 1. 



Near end 

 of July. 



April 27. 



May 14. 



May 25 to 

 July 1. 



June 20. 



April 17 



May 4. 



May 16 to 

 July 1. 



May 24. 



Near end |Near middle 

 of July. of July. 



Reproduction: Spawns the middle of May and June, in deep water along 

 the coast from Long Island to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Eggs are 

 pelagic, 1-20 inch in diameter with large oil globule. Hatch in five 

 days in water temperature of 55° to 58°. Yolk sac absorbed in six days. 

 Larva 3.5 mm. long at hatching; 4.5 mm. when nine days old. (For 

 description of eggs and young and bibliography, see Ehrenbaum, 

 Nordische Plankton, 4, 1905, 31.) 



Food: The mackerel strains the sea-water through its gill rakers as it 

 swims open-mouthed through the water, taking in all kinds of small 

 Crustacea and the larvjE of marine invertebrates. They also feed on 

 young fishes, especially in the latter part of the summer when the.se are 

 abundant. 



Rate of Growth: Reach a length of two inches in 30 days from hatching, 

 four inches in 45 days, seven inches before the autumn migration. 

 The "blinks" are two years old, the "tinkers" three years, and the 

 adult size of seventeen or eighteen inches is reached in the fourth year. 

 (Report U. S. Fish Com., 1879, 32.) There are numerous ol^servations 

 on the rate of growth of the mackerel. In one month from hatching 

 it is from .5 to .8 inch in length; in two months, 1.6 to 3.2 inches; in 

 three months, 2.8 inches; in four months, 4 to 4.4 inches; in five months, 

 4.8 to 5.2 inches; in six months, 5.8 to 7.2 inches; in eight months, 6.8 

 to 7.2 inches; in twelve months, 8.4 to 9.6 inches (Allen, 1897-99). 

 Bean reports specimens July 25, 2J to 3J inches at Great South Bay, 

 L. I. Also specimens 3^ to3| inches at Gravesend Bay, L. I., May 23, 

 1906. 



References: 



1889: Cunningham, Jour. M. B. Ass., Plymouth, I, 25. 



