154 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



nearly ripe spawn (Goode, Nat. Hist, of Aquatic Animals, 242, and 



Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 337). 

 Food: Tliis species is a fish of prey, coming to the surface to capture 



herring and other small fishes. Also feeds upon crabs and small 



Crustacea. 

 Rate of Growth: Young specimens 2^ inches long are seined about 



Woods Hole m the fall (Smith, 1898). 



GADID^. The Cods. 

 179. PoUachius virens (Linnseus). Pollock. 



Geog. Dist.: North Atlantic, south on both coasts to New Jersey and 

 France. 



Migration: Like the cod, appearing in New England shore waters in 

 cool weather, leaving when temperature reaches 60° or 65° F. Reach 

 Nantucket early in April. 



Season in R. I.: Not common in Narragansett Bay. A large run arrives 

 in offshore waters in the middle of May, probably leaving in June. 

 Comes in again in September and October and are present through 

 the winter. A small specimen, fourteen inches long, taken September 

 11, 1905, Dutch Island Harbor. On May 15, 1905, and during the 

 few following days, a large run of pollock took place all along the shore 

 from Brenton's Reef to Sakonnet. This was the largest run for years 

 and made havoc among the scup schools. 



Reproduction: Spawning takes place in November and December in 

 the open water. The eggs are buoyant, have no oil globule, and are 

 1-22 inch (1.03 to 1.22 mm.) in diameter. They hatch in six days in 

 water of 49°; the yolk sac is absorbed in five days. The newly hatched 

 larva is | inch (3.4 to 3.8 mm.) in length. 



Habitat: Like the cod; a bottom and deep-water fish. But it is more 

 often seen on the surface than the cod, congregating in large schools 

 which roam from place to place preying on fishes of all sorts. 



Food: Fishes of all kinds; scup, young codfish. 



Rate of Growth: In April, many young six or eight inches long are 

 present. April 16, 1906, two specimens were taken in Dutch Island 

 trap that were six inches long. One specimen was taken in the same 

 trap on April 30, 1906. Schools of young at Woods Hole in April, 

 1 to H inches long; these are four inches long in June. In September 

 there is a run of pollock seven or eight inches long. 



