70 THE TARPON 



'check' was shown as a 'zone', how are we to be certain 

 that this is an annual one.'' 

 It is not necessary to weary the reader with a recital of the 

 investigations which I have undertaken to determine the age 

 of the tarpon for they have led to no definite conclusions. 

 I have examined hundreds of scales taken from fish from 

 three inches to six feet long but after the most patient study 

 with the aid of microscopes, I have been forced to con- 

 clude that the problem is insoluble so far as I am concerned. 



The growth of a fish depends largely upon its range and 

 food supply. A black bass or trout confined in narrow quar- 

 ters without a natural and ample supply of food will never 

 develop into a large fish. The large mouth black bass is one 

 of the most widely distributed fish in the Eastern United 

 States. In its northern habitat it rarely gains a weight of 

 over eight pounds, while in Florida where food is abundant 

 and the water warm, the same species reaches a weight of 

 twenty pounds. 



The Bureau of Fisheries, at Washington, furnishes this in- 

 teresting information which no doubt accurately states the 

 facts relating to the age and growth of fishes. 



"The question is frequently asked whether it is pos- 

 sible to tell the age of a fish from its length or weight. 

 The question of the age of fishes is of great interest to the 

 fishery expert as bearing on the problem of the conserva- 

 tion and maintenance of supply of commercial fishes. The 

 angler is also frequently interested in knowing the age 

 of the fish which he captures, especially if it is a speci- 

 men of unusual size. The question of the age of fishes is 

 quite complicated and an extensive study of each par- 

 ticular species is required for its solution. Leaving out 

 technical details, an attempt is made in the following notes 

 to state the problem from the layman's point of view. 



There is very wide variation in the size of fishes of the 

 same age. In addition to variation among individuals of 



