72 THE TARPON 



different bodies of vvater — this phenomenon being akin to 

 the varying fertility of different soils — the growth of fish- 

 es will vary with it. Fishes living in waters having a rich 

 food supply will grow very rapidly, while those living in 

 barren waters will be stunted ; and all intermediate condi- 

 tions may be found in nature. For this reason it is fre- 

 quently found that fishes living in one body of water may 

 be double, or even treble the size of other individuals of 

 the same age, but living in another body of water. 



The rate of growth also varies with age. In general, 

 growth is comparatively more rapid in the young. As the 

 fish grows older the rate of growth slows up considerably, 

 and in older fish, the difference in size due to a difference 

 of one year in age is usually comparatively small. Con- 

 sequently as a fish grows older, the size as a criterion of 

 age becomes increasingly more difficult of application. 



From the foregoing discussion it may be summarized 

 that it is impossible to state a definite size for a fish of any 

 given age. The best that may be done is to give the maxi- 

 mum, the minimum and the mean or average size, and 

 even these figures will vary greatly with the locality and 

 the body of water. Consequently, it is not possible to state 

 definitely the age of a fish when the length or weight are 

 given. The age is usually determined by an extensive 

 study of the scales, otoliths, or other parts of the skele- 

 ton." 

 The tarpon lives in the midst of plenty and in warm waters. 

 It is an active and exceedingly speedy fish, well adapted to 

 capture any fish it may desire to feed upon. 



The female tarpon usually captured on the West Coast of 

 Florida likely reach a weight of at least sixty or seventy 

 pounds by the third year and probably breed the third or 

 fourth year as Gill suggests. After the fish reaches maturity, it 

 increases in length and weight much more slowly, which seems 

 to be the law governing the growth of all fishes. Finally, it dies 



