EOCK FlSB.—(Boccus lineatus.) 



The Eock Fisli or Sfcripsd Bass, is very widely distributed 

 ou the Atlantic Coast, and enters very largely into the fish 

 food resources of the Sea Coast of the United States, and 

 nowhere are larger specimens found, or is it found in greater 

 perfection than in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. 



Although they are found in abundance on the New England 

 Coast, we understand that the small fish, say of 3 or 4 months 

 growth, have never been taken. This would indicate, that 

 although they roam during the Summer season along the 

 Northern Coast, they spawn farther South. 



There can be but little doubt that vast numbers are every 

 year spawned in the Chesapeake Bay, or its tributaries. 



The exact character of their spawning beds has never been 

 ascertained, and although in the month of April and early 

 May the female Eock is often taken with roe considerably 

 advanced, yet we have never been able to find the fish suffi- 

 ciently ripe for the eggs to run, and although we have con- 

 sulted very many of the oldest and most successful fishermen 

 of our Bay, we never have been able to find one who had 

 taken the Eock with the spawn running from it. This would 

 indicate that their spawning grounds are not adjacent to the 

 ordinary fishing shores, but that when taken in the Shad and 

 Herring seines they are attracted, rather by the abundant 

 food than a desire to reach their spawning grounds. 



It shall be our endeavor during the coming season to mul- 

 tiply this most valuable fish. 



Last Spring the season was so far advanced when the 

 present appropriation was available, that we were unable to 

 carry out the method suggested in our last report, that was, to 

 collect early in the season a number of adult fish, and keep 

 them in ponds until they were ripe ; we would, in this way, be 

 able at least to ascertain with some accuracy the date of their 

 spawning. We imagine, that the imprisonment of the Eock in 

 suitable ponds where they could be kept until ripe, is as practi- 



