COD-FISHERIES OF CAPE ANN. 709 



by nearly 2i poimds — a differeuce ouly partially accounted for by tlie 

 presence of the eggs. Whether this would be true for other localities or 

 for other years is not known. 



The general form of the different indi\'iduals varies but slightly, though 

 there is considerable difference in their relative proportions. No exter- 

 nal character has been noticed whereby the sexes can be distinguished, 

 and even the most trained observer cannot separate them when green 

 until they have been opened. The difference in the relative proportions 

 is considerable, and the length is not a reliable indication of weight. 

 Some fish are short and thick while others are long and slender. Table 

 1^0. TV gives the measurements and weights of a number of fish of dif- 

 ferent sizes, and shows fully the extent of this variation. 



The difference in the shape of the shore and school fish seems largely 

 the result of food and habits. The school-fish, moving about in pursuit 

 of food, becomes thick and plump, so that the head appears small in pro- 

 portion to the body, while the shore-fish, subsisting on such food as can 

 be found on the rocks, grows thin and gaunt, giving its head a larger 

 relative size. 



There is a remarkable variation in the color of different individuals of 

 the species. This is doubtless due to surrounding circumstances, or to 

 the character of the bottom on which they live, and to the age of the fish. 

 The young when first hatched are nearly colorless, with the exception 

 of a few dark star-shaped pigment cells, most noticeable in the eyes, and 

 sparingly scattered over the whole surface of the body. These increase 

 rapidly in number during the first few days on certain portions of the 

 body, giving the little fish a very peculiar banded appearance. At the 

 age of six months they are still quite transparent, and the upper parts 

 are well covered with minute black dots, more prominent along either 

 side of the dorsal fins, and gradually shading off into lighter underneath, 

 with the belly nearly white. At this time the fish have a peculiar golden 

 tinge, deepest along the back and sides. Traces of the dark bands still 

 remain, but these are more noticeable on account of the intervening 

 lighter spaces, that seem to extend irregularly downward and backward, 

 giving the fish a blotched or mottled appearance. Gradually the young 

 fish living along the shore come to resemble more nearly the adult in 

 the relative size and distribution of the spots, until at the age of twelve 

 to eighteen months there is a marked similarity between them. But the 

 young continue to live among the rocks and ledges covered with algae, 

 and soon begin to show a reddish tinge; this increasing and varying 

 with the individual, often giving the fish a deep red color. These red 

 fish are known to the fishermen as rock-cod, from the bottom on which 

 they are taken. They are usually small, having a weight of ouly a few 

 pounds, but some retain the color until they are of large size, and one 

 specimen was seen during the summer of 1878 weighing 46 pounds. 

 The ordinary shore-fish or ground-tender is quite dark, with the belly of 

 a dirty ash, and the sx^ots usually large and indistinct on a dark back- 



