THE SMITHSOMIAN INSTITUTION. 321 



LIST OF FISHES. 

 1. Labrax lineatus, Cuv. and VaL 



Rock-Fish — Striped Bass. 



Labrax lineatus, Cuv. and VaL, Hist. Nat. Poiss. II, 79. — 

 Storer's Report, p. 7. — DeKay, Fauna of" New York, Fishes, 7, 

 plate i, (ig. 3. 



The well known rock-fisli, or striped bass, was not caught abund- 

 antly during my sta}', although occasionally taken in the mouth of" the 

 river, and near blufi" banks along the thoroughfares. In winter and 

 spring they are captured in considerable numbers in seines, and of a 

 weight extending to twent}' or thirty pounds. Individuals of this size 

 are, however, rarely met with. No youni' ones were seen, as they had 

 not yet returned from the upper portion of the river. At Sing Sing, 

 New York, a few weeks later, several sizes of young were taken. 



The rock takes a bait readily, and, from the vigor of its actions, 

 affords fine sport with the rod and reel; the fly is especially adapted 

 to the capture of this species. 



As is well known, the rock-fish is the associate of the shad and seve- 

 ral species of herring, in a vernal migration from salt water to fresh, for 

 the purpose of depositing their eggs. The development of their young- 

 is very rapid, as, when they return to the sea in the fall, they have already 

 attained a lengti] of about four inches ; up to a size somewhat greater 

 than this they exhibit decided indications of vertical dark bars, as in 

 the yellow perch, but this fades out in a shoi*t time after being taken from 

 the water. 



The rock-fish is more abundant in Chesapeake bay and its tributa- 

 ries than anywhere else to the northward. Here they occur all the 

 year round, and are taken in great numbers. During their migration, 

 they feed voraciously upon the herring bound on the same errand up 

 the fresh water streams. These they ascend to a great height; in the 

 Susquehanna, before the dams were built, reaching the forks at North- 

 , umberland, and possibly beyond. The falls of the Potomac offer serious 

 ; impediments to their passage much above the city of Washington. 

 ; Arrested in this way, they accumulate in considerable numbers, and 

 5 afford great sport to the citizens of this place during spring and earl}"^ 

 I summer. The late Mr. Webster was frequently to be seen patiently 

 ( exercising that skill which made him eminent among the celebrated 

 1 fishermen of the day. 



, Owing to its abundance, the rock is the chief staple of the Washing- 

 :, ton fish-market, where it is to be seen throughout most of the year. It 

 j is usuall}'^ sold at a moderate price, and it is no uncommon thing to have 

 ^ the opportunity of purchasmg one of 30 or 40 pounds for 75 cents. 

 Much interest has been excited in the experiments of Mr. R. L. Pell, 

 of Pelham, Ulster county, New York, in reference to the breeding of 

 rock-fish and shad in fresh w-aters. I have been kindly furnished by 

 this gentleman with the following communication, which explains his 

 method of stocking fish-ponds. 

 Mis. Doc. 24 21 



