PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES 45 



body length and medium and large from 25 to 44 centimeters (9.8 to 

 13 inches) body length. By far the greater number of fish range 

 around 28 centimeters (11 inches) body length (ll.T inches total 

 length). The sampling of the catch of the past season is inadequate 

 to give the relative abundance of each size class in the fish stock, and 

 therefore more complete sampling must be made next year. 



The analysis of the season's run for age composition has been 

 undertaken. Scales from each fish collected have been preserved 

 and many have already been prepared and mounted for microscopic 

 examination, by which the age of each individual is determined. 



The question of the interdependence of different fishing areas, and 

 hence the chance of success of measures of conservation applied in 

 one State or another, has been attacked by studying the racial com- 

 position of the fish stock of North Carolina and Florida. About 

 r),(K1() measurements of the physical proportions of the mullet from 

 the former locality and about 5,500 measurements from the latter 

 have been made and the results jjartly analyzed. It is commonly 

 believed by both naturalists and fishermen that the mullet migrate 

 annually from the soimds of North Carolina southward along the 

 coast into Florida waters and, some say, into the ({ulf of Mexico, 

 but a preliminary analysis of the data on racial composition indi- 

 cates that the stock of mullet supplying the commercial fishery in 

 North Carolina is entirely distinct from that of Florida, hence these 

 theories of intermigration between the two localities are false. The 

 data further indicate the possible existence of two distinct races 

 entering the fishery in North Carolina, and several along the Florida 

 coast. 



Other data have been collected from the season's observations 

 and await analysis. The advance of sexual maturity has been 

 recorded and materials for the study of spawning and egg produc- 

 tion have been collected. Samples of the roe were talcen at frequent 

 intervals throughout the fall and were preserved for microscopic 

 stud3^ Records of the localities of the catches were kept for a study 

 of the distribution and movement of schools. Records of the daily 

 receipts of mullet by all the dealers in Carteret County also were 

 collected as a basis for the study of the movements of the fish and 

 factors influencinp; mijrration. 



>Jo survey covering the fishing season for mullet was undertaken 

 in Florida, but a brief inquiry was made on the occurrence of spawn- 

 ing on the east and west coasts and the question of local races also 

 was considered. Nine samples of the commercial catch (607 speci- 

 mens) were taken. The data are unavoidably inadequate to settle 

 the questions, but in some cases are sufficient to Avarrant tentative 

 conchisions until verified or corrected by next season's observations. 

 The}^ may be summarized as follows: 



Sizefi. — On the east coast (Jacksonville, Fort Pierce, and Miami) 

 samples were taken having a typical size of 15.7 inches total length. 

 On the Avest coast (Pensacola "and Apalachicola) the typical length 

 was 12.3 inches, Avhile on the southwest coast (Punta Gorda) a 

 single sample had the typical length of 19.7 inches. 



She at maturity. — On the Avest coast all fish under about 9 inches 

 total length are immature as late as December 2, and probably do 

 not sjjaAvn until the following year. Practically all other fish ob- 

 served had spaAvned or Avere in spawning condition. 



