116 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [26] 



mackerel is provided with au oil globule, which makes it float nearly 

 at the level of the surface." 



I am indebted to Mr. Frederick W. True for a count of the eggs 

 in two mackerel taken at Woods Holl, Mass., in May, 1873. One of 

 these (No. 10512, U. S. Nat. Mus.), contained 303,107, the other (No. 

 15205), 393,887. 



The only enumeration of mackerel eggs previously recorded is that 

 made bj^ Thomas Harmer, in 1764, and published in the Philosophical 

 Transactions of London, vol. 57, p. 285. He found in one large mack- 

 erel, weighing 1| pounds, 454,961 eggs; in a second, of much the same 

 weight, 430,846; and in a third, weighing about 1 pound 2 ounces, 

 546,681. His estimate is probably too large. 



6. — Eate of growth and size. 



The rate of growth of the mackerel during the first summer has been 

 quite carefully studied by Captain Atwood; and the same authority 

 has, i^erhaps, more satisfactorily than any other interpreted the facts 

 from which may be deduced the conclusions as to their growth year by 

 year. 



Eeferriug to the small fish, 6 J or 7 inches in length, which he believed 

 to be the young of the year, caught by hiui in October, 1856, he says: 

 " Fish of this size are sometimes called ' spikes,' but I do not know their 

 proper name. The next year I think they are the 'blinks,' being one 

 year old; the following year they are the 'tinkers,' two years old, and 

 the year after they return to us as the second-size, three years old. 

 It is jirobable that the fish reaches its full maturity in four years." He 

 continues: "The first mackerel that come in are very large and spawn- 

 ers, but these do not bite at the hook; and you don't catch them with 

 the seine, because they don't show themselves. You would not know of 

 their presence if you did not set nets for them. When they are taken 

 in nets set anywhere along the coast, at Provincetown, &c., a good 

 many i^eople imagine that they are the remnant of the mackerel which 

 were there the year before, and which have been imbedded in the mud; 

 and when they taste these fish they fancy that they taste mud. When 

 the next school arrives there appear mackerel of diflerent sizes, which 

 take the hook. They are carried to Boston market and are sold fresh 

 in their season. They are not sold by weight, but are culled, and are 

 denominated as follows: Large ones, second-size, tinkers, and blinks. 

 When the large oues are worth 12 cents, the others may sell: second 

 size, 8 cents; tinkers, 4 cents, and blinks, 1^ cents. These prices may 

 fluctuate before a large proportion of one or more of the above-named 

 kinds at the same time. Any man who is well acquainted with them 

 will make the same culling, as there seems to be a line of demarkation 

 between the different kinds which stands out prominently. 



" Admitting this to be the fact, those that come as blinks are from 



