408 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



have seen the surface of the water literally covered with schools ou the 

 flood-tide, while ou the ebb there was hardly a fish to be seeu. I have 

 seeu them under water on the ebb-tide, two or three fathoms down, in 

 schools; but they move very slowly until the tide turns flood; then 

 they school up on the surface of the water, and are quicker in their 

 movements. I have seen them in the fall of the year, when not school- 

 ing; but whether schooling or not, they generally play on the surface of 

 the water, except on the ebb-tide. 



12. Around the islands and harbors on the coast of Maine. 



13. During the summer season generally find them very near the 

 shore, near the surface of the water or a few feet below. 



14. It does not. 



15. Never noticed young fish with the old ones ; very seldom see the 

 young fish after the first year until nearly full grown. 



16. Generally see the young fish in October ; they are then about three 

 inches long. 



17. They commence to move south about the first of October ; leave 

 the coast by degrees. 



18. I do not think the main body follows the coast in the fall, after 

 passing Cape Cod, as they do when they come north in the spring. I 

 believe the main body, instead of going through Vineyard Sound aud 

 following the coast, go out through South Channel and go wide off shore, 

 but presume they strike in on the coast farther south. 



20. What the fishermen call cayenne, a sort of fine, red substance float- 

 ing in the water. Mackerel feed ou the same. 



21. I think, from observation, they spawn where there is plenty of eel- 

 grass, in localities where they are not apt to be disturbed by bluefish. 

 Their spawning season is about the last of June. 



221 I have seen them when they were spawning ; they get together in 

 bunches, from twenty to five hundred in a bunch, more or less, in shoal 

 water, over a body of eel-grass, and then swim around in a circle, press- 

 ing against each other as they swim. I suppose they deposit their eggs 

 on or among the eel-grass. 



23. It is not. 



24. Do not know the temperature of the water, but when they spawn 

 the water is quite warm. 



25. Where I have seen them spawning it would not ebb quite dry at 

 low water. 



26. Presume they become attached to the eel-grass. 



27. Do not know how soon they hatch after being deposited, but prob- 

 ably not a great while, as in October the young fish are from three to 

 four inches long. 



28. When they make their appearance in October they are very plenty. 

 I have seen the fishermen catch them with dip-nets, for bait. They 

 act very much like the old fish, being in schools or bodies. I never hap- 

 pened to notice them anywhere except in Provincetown Harbor. 



