1 82 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



far as to say that it will destroy a thousand fish in a day. 

 This gentleman is also of the opinion that they do much 

 more harm to the fishes of the coast than is caused by the 

 pounds. They will generally swallow a fish of a very large 

 size in proportion to their own, sometimes taking it down 

 bodily; at others, only the posterior half. The peculiar 

 armor of certain fish prevents their being taken entire; and 

 it is not uncommon to find the head of a sculpin, or other 

 fish, whose body has evidently been cut off by the Blue-fish. 

 In the summer time the young are quite apt to establish them- 

 selves singly in a favorite locality, and, indeed, to accom- 

 pany the fry of other fishes usually playing below them, and 

 every now and then darting upward and capturing an unlucky 

 individual, while the rest dash away in every direction. In 

 this manner they attend upon the young Mullet, Atherinas, 

 etc. They are very fond of squid, which may very frequently 

 be detected in their stomachs. In August, 1870, about Fire 

 Island, Mr. S. I. Smith found their stomachs filled with 

 marine worms, a species of Heteronereis, which, though 

 usually burrowing in the mud, at that season swims freely 

 toward the surface in connection with the operation of repro- 

 duction. This, like the squid, is a favorite bait for the 

 Blue-fish; and they appear to care for little else when these 

 are to be had. This fact probably explains the reason why, 

 at certain seasons, no matter how abundant the fish may be, 

 they cannot be taken with the drail or squid boat." 



The Blue-fish are believed to have had a very important 

 influence upon the abundance of other species on some parts 

 of the coast. This has been noticed especially on the north 

 side of Cape Cod. South of Cape Cod the small fish occur 

 in such enormous abundance that even the voracity of mil- 

 lions of Blue -fish could hardly produce any effect upon 

 them. Capt. Atwood has recorded his belief that the advent 

 of the Blue-fish drove away the Plaice or large Flounder 

 from those waters, not so much by their direct attacks upon 



