76 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



of the State after the end of the scup season. They decrease considerably 

 in numbers the latter part of July and August; they increase again the 

 latter part of August and September, and finally disappear in October. 

 The first runs are composed of adults fishes of uniform size, some having 

 ripe spawn. About August 20 a new school arrives, composed of smaller 

 fishes about 12 to 14 inches in length. These remain throughout the 

 season. The first specimen taken in Providence River in 1905 was at 

 Gaspee Point on June 16th. A catch of 70,000 pounds was made June 16, 

 1905, by a Gloucester schooner off Block Island. . 



Habitat: Coast and still-water fish, running up tidal waters. Immense 

 schools on surface have often been seen. (Goode.) 



Reproduction: Many of the fishes have ripe spawn when they first arrive; 

 this indicates the spawning season about June 1. Spawns around bays 

 and inlets and at the mouths of rivers in certain localities; Providence 

 River is a favorite spawning ground. The eggs are buoyant. 



Food: Fishes, especially menhaden and butter-fish, are its staple articles 

 of diet. Herring, scup, squids, shrimp. The young live exclusively on 

 shrimp and young fishes. (J. H. Peck, Ph. D., The Sources of Marine 

 Food, Bull., U. S. Fish Commission, 1895, 351.) 



Size : August 5, 1901 , young squeteague abundant at Red Bridge, Providence 

 River, 1.25 to 2.25 inches in length. (Eigenmann, Investigations into the 

 History of the Young Squeteague, Bull., U. S. Fish Commission, 1901, 45.) 



131. Leiostomus xanthurus (Lacepede). Spot; Goody. 

 Geog. Dist. : Cape Cod to Texas; abundant south. 

 Migrations: Jersey coast at Sea Isle City in July; north Jersey coast in 



August; Woods Hole in autumn; remaining through October until the 



temperature falls below 45° F. 

 Season in R. I.: Sometimes taken at Newport. (Mr. Southwick.) 

 Habitat: Bottom fish. 

 Reproduction: Spawns in the south in bays and inlets in November and 



December. 

 Food: SmaU molluscs and Crustacea, annelids. 

 Size: Three or 4 inches on south Jersey coast. Woods Hole specimens about 



6 inches. 



133. Menticirrhus saxatilis (Bloch & Schneider). King fish; Sea-mink. 

 Geog. Dist.: Cape Ann to Pensacola. 



