MANUAL OF FISH-CULTUEE. 221 



This fish is widely distributed, being found on both coasts of North 

 America. On tlie west coast it does not enter United States waters, 

 but on the Atlantic seaboard it ranges from Texas to Massachusetts. 

 It is esi)ecially abundant in the Gulf of Mexico, among the Florida keys, 

 in Chesapeake Bay, and on the coast of the Middle Altantic States. 



Its maximum weight is about 1^ pounds. Many weighing only 1 or 

 li pounds are caught for market, and the average is less than 3 pounds. 



The Spanish mackerel is one of the choicest food-fishes of American 

 waters; in popular estimation it is scarcely surpassed by any marine 

 species except the pompano. It is caught throughout its range on the 

 east* coast with gill nets, seines, pound nets, and lines, Tlie principal 

 fishing is on the west coast of Florida, on the Louisiana coast, in the 

 lower part of Chesapeake Bay, and on the coasts of New Jersey and New 

 York. The approximate annual value of the catch at present is $130,000, 

 which represents 1,700,000 pounds. In 1880 the output was 1,887,000 

 pounds, having a value of $132,000. The yield in the jMiddle States is 

 much less than formerly, while in the Gulf States it has increased. 



The fish spawns throughout its entire range on the United States 

 coast. The spawning season is quite prolonged, extending from April 

 in the Caroliuas to September in New York, and in a given locality 

 continues from six to ten weeks. All of the eggs in the ovaries of a 

 given fish do not mature at one time; eggs in all stages of development 

 may be found, suggesting a comparatively long spawning season for 

 individual fish as well as for the species as a whole. The eggs, when 

 laid, float at the surface, where they are driven about by wind and tide. 

 Doubtless a large percentage of the eggs do not hatch, through faihire 

 of fertilization and by being stranded. The eggs are very small, their 

 diameter being only -^g to -gVof an inch. 



The artificial impregnation and hatching of Spanish mackerel eggs 

 were first accomplished in 1880, since which time the propagation of 

 the fish has been taken up on a number of occasions, although the 

 work in any one season has been comparatively limited. 



The serious diminution in the supply of this species in certain sec- 

 tions seems to call for its artificial cultivation whenever it can be taken 

 up without detriment to the propagation of other more or equally 

 imi)ortant fish. 



In the work of artificially propagating this fish recourse has been 

 had to the nets of commercial fishermen for the supply of spawn and 

 milt. Chesapeake Bay has been the seat of the principal operations, 

 which have been conducted by the steamer Fifih Rawl: The catch of 

 Spanish mackerel in this bay in pound nets and other appliances is 

 very large, and tlie facilities for fish-cultural work of this character 

 are doubtless superior to those of any other section, with the possible 

 exception of the west coast of Florida. 



The necessity for depending on the fishermen for the supply of eggs 

 is somewhat detrimental to the best results and prevents extensive 

 work, although the owners of fishing apparatus heartily cooperate. 



