438 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



extent when seen on the surface of the water ; they can be seen for miles 

 in every direction lying on or near the surface, and are discovered by the 

 ripple on the water; also by birds, seagulls being attracted by thera. 



8. We first hear of them along the sea-coast of New Jersey and Long 

 Island; they come into the sound by way of Montauk. The early fish 

 follow along the Connecticut shores and up the rivers, but later in the 

 season, when the waters are warm, they are found off shore in deep 

 water. Occasionally they work in shore and up the rivers. 



9. Their appearance is regular and certain; have never known them 

 to fail. 



10. No ; but they are more difficult to capture. 



11. Not noticeable. 



12. Long Island Sound, during the summer months, appears to be one 

 of their favorite localities. 



13. Early in the season they prefer shoal water, and they swim low, 

 but during the summer and fall they prefer deep water and swim high. 



14. In warm weather they appear to be in thin schools and are scat- 

 tered more on the surface. 



15. Yes. The one and two year old fish are often found with the 

 oldest. 



16. The young fish are seen during the months of August and Septem- 

 ber, from 3 to 4 inches in length. 



17. They begin to leave the sound about the 1st of September, and 

 leave by degrees in large bodies. They are all gone by the 1st or 15th 

 of October. 



18. Same route as they come by. 



19. South or near the Gulf stream. 



20. Scum, or minute insect, on the surface. 



21. Along the shores and rivers in May and June. 



22. Sexes are mixed indiscriminately. 

 26. They sink to the bottom. 



28. The young are found in great abundance all along the shores of 

 the sound, " and more particularly in the vicinity of the oil factories," 

 in large schools. I have seen hundreds of schools at a time, containing 

 millions in a body. In fact, the expert fishermen sometimes mistake 

 them for large fish, and make prei)aratious to set their net before they 

 find their mistake. 



29. Seldom, if ever; occasionally we see fish that have spawns in 

 them ; it shows after being cooked ; the very large ocean fish that never 

 come into the sound but come in from sea and are captured east of New 

 London at Montauk, south side of Long Island, Sandy Hook, and the 

 Jersey coast; from these more particularly the spawn is found to run. 



31. Occasionally lampreys. TVo sometimes notice red lice late in the 

 fall oa the large fish that come in from sea. 



32. Sharks are their greatest enemy ; these and porpoises prey upon 

 them continually and destroy large numbers of them. 



