AMERICAN FISHES. 



ten inches, with an average weight of one-half -pound. After this they 

 grow more quickly. One hundred and ninety-nine, presumed to be three 

 years' fish, weighed on the 6th of September, averaged one and a half 

 pounds each, and measured about twelve inches in length by four and a 

 half inches in width, some individuals being larger and some smaller. 

 The female fish of the second year not unfrequently contains mature eggs. 

 It is in the fifth year, or after the lapse of four years from birth, that the 

 Scup presents its finest development ; specimens believed to be of this age 

 measured fourteen or fifteen inches by five to six inches or more, with a 

 weight of two-and-a-half to three pounds. They, however, still continue 

 to grow, specimens being not unfrequently met with eighteen inches long, 

 and weighing four pounds and even more. The dimensions may belong to 

 fish of six or more years of age ; more probably, however, of five years. 



"As a general rule, in their movement along the coast the Scup are not 

 found in water shallower than a few fathoms ; and it sometimes happens, 

 in the course of heavy storms, that in consequence of the discoloration of 

 the water near the shore the fish move farther out to sea, and on such 

 occasions measurably escape falling into the traps. 



"The Scup is very largely a bottom feeder, and depends very much 

 upon mollusks or shell-fish for subsistence. I have been informed by the 

 fishermen that they may frequently be seen feeding upon small bivalves of 

 different species, rooting them out of the sand or mud. The stomachs of 

 about two hundred one and one-half pound Scup w^ere examined at one 

 time in the beginning of September. These almost exclusively contained 

 shells of various genera, with some worms and a few amphipods. Its 

 especial food appears to be small shells, crabs, shrimps and possibly small 

 fish. The abundance of such food on the south coast of New England 

 must be prodigious to support the sv/arms that even now are found there. 

 It is in regard to this species that a close time appears desirable, so that 

 access to the spawning-grounds and freedom from disturbance may be 

 enjoyed by a sufficient number to maintain the species. 



"Like all other small fish, they are devoured by their more rapacious 

 fellows, and very largely by bluefish, notwithstanding a general impres- 

 sion to the contrary. The extent to Avhich this takes place will be con- 

 sidered under the head of the bluefish. Halibut, cod, sharks and other 

 ground-feeders likewise use them up in great numbers. 



"As already remarked, the breeding fish do not appear to feed on their 

 first arrival, being then too much occupied in carrying out the reproduc- 

 tive function. As, however, they can be taken with the hook about the 

 ist of June, we may infer that this is about the time they begin to feed 

 for themselves. The younger fish probably feed as soon as they reach the 

 shores. No remains of fish have hitherto been found in the stomachs of 

 Scups, and we may conclude that they are not piscivorous. 



" The Scup remain along the northern coast until about the middle of 

 October, when the larger ones, at least, begin to leave the shores and 



