298 Smelt (cont.) 



Color: Transparent olive green above; sides lighter; belly 

 silvery. A silver band on sides along length of body. 

 Distribution: Found from eastern Labrador to Virginia. 

 More common from New Jersey north. It is found land- 

 locked in fresh-water lakes in Canada, Maine, and New 

 Hampshire and has been successfully introduced into the 

 Great Lakes, where it is now abundant. 

 Size: Reaches a length of about 14 inches. 

 General Information: The Smelt is found mainly close to 

 shore, commonly about river mouths. It usually runs in 

 schools of about the same length fish. Most of the life of 

 this species is spent in salt water, but it runs up into fresh 

 water to spawn. Soon after the ice goes out in the coastal 

 streams the Smelt start to run up into the fresh water. The 

 males appear first and are soon followed by the females. 

 Spawning occurs from February through June, depending 

 on water temperature. The eggs sink to the bottom and 

 stick in masses to anything they may touch or to each 

 other. A relatively small Smelt, 2 ounces in weight, may 

 lay 50,000 eggs. After hatching, the young remain in the 

 stream until some time in summer. By fall they are found 

 in salt water. At this time they are about IV2 inches long. 

 They remain in salt water for at least two winters before 

 returning to the fresh-water streams to spawn. The Smelt's 

 main food is small shrimp-like animals, but it also eats 

 worms, small fish, and small shellfish. 

 Economic Importance: A fine food fish now uncommon 

 south of Cape Cod, and less abundant to the north than 

 in the early 1900's. As with the shad, pollution, dams, and 

 construction near streams have destroyed spawning areas 

 or made them inaccessible, thus eliminating or reducing 

 populations of Smelt in many localities. This species tends 

 to concentrate in harbors in the fall of the year, at which 

 time it can be readily caught by the angler. 



