OBSERVATIONS ON SO.MK NEW BRUNSWICK FISHES. 37 



to the melting snow, the temperature of the river water sinks, 

 the larger fish are found to scatter in all directions down the 

 estuary, to resume their former places when the freshet sub- 

 sides. A low temperature destroys the characteristic voracity 

 of the bass. In winter the stomach is invariably empty. 



On the St. John it spawns in fresh, bu t on the Miramichi i n 

 brackish or salt water, and generally in shallow places. During 

 the operation there is no evidence of pairing as seen among the 

 Salmonidse, nor indeed any definite sexual arrangement of 

 individuals, except that the males are said to keep sometimes 

 tidewards of the females. The eggs hatch in from thirty-six 

 to seventy-two hours, according to the temperature of the 

 water ; and in December the fry are from two and a half to 

 three inches long. This rate of growth is much less than on 

 the New England coast; but in the latter case the season is 

 longer. 



The striped bass is eminently fitted to perpetuate itself. 

 Of rapid movement; provided with formidable means of 

 defense in the sharp, strong dorsal spines, inhabiting areas of 

 our coast waters peculiarly free from enemies, exceedingly 

 prolific, with the young so rapidly developed from the egg 

 that little or no destruction of spawn can take place ; this 

 excellent food fish should be very abundant. And so it was 

 in the Miramichi Bay until lately. In a few months of the 

 winter of 1884 the estuary of the north-west Miramichi alone 

 yielded 94,000 pounds, worth from twelve to fourteen cents a 

 pound ; but the catch declined, until in 1889 it was only 

 2.000 pounds. This falling off was due to over-fishing and 

 the destruction of young fry in smelt bag-nets, which, with a 

 strange disregard of consequences, were permitted to be set 

 in their winter habitat. As this was stopped and the taking 

 of bass prohibited for three years, these waters were soon re- 

 stocked. 



Respecting the distribution and number of species of 

 Gasterosteidae, or stickle-backs, in New Brunswick, much 

 uncertainty has hitherto existed. Perley knew but one form 

 — Gasterosteus hiaculeatus, Storer; and Professor Gill, thongl> 



