FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [6 J 



lis yet have we any definite information regarding the lime, place, or 

 manner of spawning. It is probable that they spawn in the open sea 

 ami tliat the eggs will be found floating at the surface. Neither has 

 any information as to the length of time required to reach maturity been 

 obtained, but it probably lives several years. This squid is an exceed- 

 ingly active creature, moving in any direction, with great velocity, by 

 means of the reaction of the ejected jet of water from the siphon or fuu- 

 nel. When darting rapidly, the lobes of the caudal fin are wrapped 

 about the body and the arms are held closely, in an acute bundle, in 

 front, the animal thus being sharp at both ends and passing through 

 the water with the least resistance. They are predatory, gregarious, and 

 nocturnal in habits, swimming mainly at night, in schools, and attack- 

 ing and devouring small fishes and crustraceans, especially shrimp, her- 

 ring, and young mackerel. They change their color and ajjpear traus- 

 luceut and pale when in puruiit of prey; and when that pursuit is so 

 active that the young fish disa])pear, the squid will sink to the bottom, 

 assume the color of the san<l, and thus ambuscaded will await the re- 

 turn of its victim. They frequently, in their search for food, ground on 

 the flats, and, as they pump out water from the funnel with great force 

 under such circumstances, tlius throwing themselves higher on the beach 

 or shoal, they perish in great numbers. At such times they also dis- 

 charge their ink in great quantities. This squid, like Loligo pealii, is 

 eagerlj^ -pursued by the cod and other voracious fishes, and while young 

 an especial enemy is the full-grown mackerel. Also like the Loligo, it 

 devours its own young. 



The Ommastrephcs is a very important item in the bait supply of the 

 codtishery, fully half the bank fishermen using squids or cuttles as 

 bait. Mr. IngersoU states over 500 sail are engaged in capturing them 

 for that purpose. They are taken, generally accidentally, in the pounds 

 and wiers, and more frequently by seeking them on flats and beaches 

 where they have been left stranded by gales or receding tides. They 

 are also ca^itured by using -'jigs" or groups of hooks which are moved 

 up and down in the water and to which the squids cling. Their noc- 

 turnal habits and tendency to gaze at a bright light are also taken 

 advantage of, and the fishermen go out on dark nights with torches 

 in their boats, and, as the squids swim backward, they are gradually 

 driven ashore. On account of its availability for bait for the cod-fisher- 

 ies, its abundance and the proximity of its range to the fishing banks, 

 this is the most valuable of the Cephalopods of the American coast. 



Loligo hrevis, Blainville. 



This is the common squid or calamary of the southern coast of the 

 United States. It ranges northward to Delaware Bay, is coiumon from 

 South Carolina to Florida and is found also along the Gulf coast. It 

 is a smaller, shorter-bodied species than Loligo pealii, has short rounded 

 caudal fins, very short upper arms, and large chromatophoric spots. 



