1 88 AMERICAN FISHES. 



Spanish Mackerel visit the shores of our Atlantic states, on a mission of 

 feeding and breeding. 



In early spring they appear in schools off our southern coast, appearing 

 in the waters of West Florida early in March, or even in the latter part of 

 February, reaching Pensacola about the beginning of April. Off the 

 Carolinas, their coming is a little later, for they do not reach Charleston 

 before the end of March, and really enter the sounds of Pamlico and 

 Albemarle until a month later. By the 20th of May, they are rounding 

 the capes of Virginia, and the schools rapidly increase in number in the 

 inland sea of the Chesapeake, until the middle of June, and their abund- 

 ance continues through the summer and early autumn. In July and 

 August they are most abundant off the coasts of New York and Southern 

 New England, where they remain in considerable numbers through the 

 early part of September — ^just as they did in the days of Mitchill, and, so 

 far as we can know, in the seventeenth century when Josselyn described 

 the fishes of New England. 



With the approach of the autumnal equinox, their southward migrations 

 begin. The first of October finds them absent from the region north of 

 New Jersey, and by November they have deserted the waters of the United 

 States, unless perchance, a few may still remain among the reefs and 

 sand-beds of the Florida Keys. 



They are lovers of warm waters, even more so than the blue-fish, for 

 they precede in the fall migration the schools of menhaden, while the 

 blue-fish follow them. Their breeding season in the Chesapeake occurs 

 when the temperature of the water ranges from 78° to 84°, and it is 

 believed that they do not willingly enter water colder than 60° 



Their habits are much like those of the blue-fish, with which they are 

 iaid to associate. They are much more active in their movements, and 

 sport and dance between sky and water almost like swallows skimming 

 over a lake. No oceanic fishes which I have seen are so admirably built 

 for springing. Their tails are muscular, shapely, provided with oar-like 

 fins, formed like the crescent moon. Their bodies are conical, arrow-like, 

 smooth as burnished metal, and their speed must be as matchless as that of 

 the dolphins. When the blue-fish leaps, it is with more deliberation and 

 noise, falling back into the water with a splash, while the sharp head of 

 the Spanish Mackerel cuts the water like the stem of a yacht. Mr. Earll 

 tells me that the Chesapeake fishermen can indentify the species by its 

 movements as far as the eye can see. 



