2^ 



much more adlieyive than tbose of the sh;ul, and more difficult 

 to handle, but much can he done towards their increase, by 

 artificial propagation. The spawning season commencing 

 and ending somewhat earlier than that of the shad. Fish- 

 ing with the herring net should be discontinued earlier in 

 the season. 



The Rock, or Striped Bass — (Itocci's Lineatus.) 



The aggregate number taken during the year, the high 

 price which it commands in our markets as well as its game 

 qualities, and the excellent flavor of its firm flesh, places 

 this am'oug the most important of our native food fishes. — 

 We have made several efforts to olitain reliable statistics of 

 the number of pounds annually })roduced in the Chesapeake 

 Bay and its tributaries, for we believe that the value of this 

 fish, and the amount of its contribution to the food resources 

 of our State is much underestimated. Though true that it 

 is not at any time taken in such great numbers as the shad 

 and herring, yet its season extending through a greater 

 portion of the year, the aggregate yield makes it of scarcely 

 less importance than these fishes. 



They are migratory to some extent in their habits, })ut it 

 does not appear that they are impelled l)y tlie same necessity' 

 ibr fresh water, for tlie purposes of reproduction, which 

 causes the above mentioned fish to visit our rivers yearly. — 

 We are inclined to believe that .their appearance is rather in 

 search of food. They arc taken of great size in the shad and 

 herring seines, and are called "herring rollers" by the fish- 

 ermen who make Avar upon them, as they believe that they 

 consume a great many shad and herring. We doubt very 

 much the wisdom of this warfare, for even if the Rock was 

 of no value as food, its predatory instincts must cause it to 

 play an important part. Following the schools of shad and 

 herring, they consume the less vigorous which become their 

 easiest prey, leaving the strong and most vigorous to perpet- 

 uate their race. There seems to he a peculiar need for this 

 Aveeding out by predatory fish, as the shad and herring are 

 not combative as many other species with whom the favors 

 of the female are often the prices of hard fought battles. — 

 Wo in visiting the several fishing shores examined liundi-eds 



