[143] CEPHALOPODS OF NORTHEASTERN COAST OF AMERICA. 353 



of an inch to an inch or more in length, swim free at the surface, and may 

 often be taken in immense quantities with towing nets. They were par- 

 ticularly abundant in the summers of 1871 and 1873, in Vineyard Sound. 

 These young squids are devoured in inconceivable numbers by fishes 

 of many kinds, and also by the adult squids of the same species, and 

 by the larger jelly-fishes, and many other marine animals. The larger 

 sizes, and even the adults, are also greedily devoured by blue-fish, black- 

 bass, striped-bass, weak-fish, mackerel, cod, and many other kinds of 

 fishes. Therefore, these " squids" are really of great importance as food 

 for our most valuable market fishes. They are extensively used as bait 

 by the fishermen. 



Rate of growth. 



I am not aware that any definite information has hitherto been pub- 

 lished as to the rate of growth or length of life of any of our Cephalo- 

 pods. By some writers it has been stated that the squids are all annual, 

 but this seems to be a mere assumption, without any evidence for its 

 basis. 



Therefore, I have, for several years past, preserved large numbers of 

 specimens of the young of Loligo Pealei, collected at different seasons 

 and localities, in order to ascertain, if possible, the rate of growth and 

 the size acquired during the first season, at least. One of the following 

 tables (I) shows some of the data thus obtained. 



There is considerable difficulty in ascertaining the age of these squids, 

 owing to the fact that the spawning season extends through the whole 

 summer, so that the young ones hatched early in June are as large by 

 September as those that hatch in September are in the following spring. 

 Owing to the same cause, most of the large lots of young squids taken 

 in midsummer include various sizes; from those just hatched up to 

 those that are two or three inches long. They are often mixed with 

 some of those of the previous year, considerably larger than the rest. 

 Earlier in the season (in May and the first part of June), before the first- 

 laid eggs begin to hatch, the youngest specimens taken (60 mm to 100 mm 

 long) are presumed to belong to the later broods of the previous autumn, 

 while those somewhat larger are believed to be from earlier broods of 

 the previous summer, and to represent the growth of one year very 

 nearly. 



Taking these principles as a guide, I have arrived at the following 

 conclusions from the data collected : 



1. The young squids begin to hatch at least as early as the second 

 week in June, on the southern coast of New England, and continue to 

 hatch till the middle of September, and perhaps later. 



2. By the second week in July, the first hatched of the June squids 

 have grown to the size in which the body (or mantle) is 30 mm to 48 mm 

 long ; but these are associated with others that are younger, of all sizes 

 down to those just hatched. They begin to show a disposition to go in 

 u schools" composed of individuals of somewhat similar sizes. 



3. By the second week in August, the largest June squids have be- 



S. Miss. 59 — -23 



