Striped Bass Fishing 



of " Green-head," and " Squid-hound. " 

 There is considerable uncertainty regard- 

 ing their southern limits, as they unques- 

 tionably wander much beyond their usual 

 feeding-grounds, and have been caught 

 in schools in Pensacola Bay, while solitary 

 specimens have been captured at various 

 points in the Gulf. 



The Striped Bass are not migratory, 

 being found along our coast in winter as 

 well as summer, and in our markets at all 

 times of the year ; and one of the most 

 potent causes of their diminution is the 

 facility with which they are taken under 

 the ice, by nets, spearing, etc. They are 

 voracious feeders, entering the rivers to 

 prey upon the " fry " of the shad, herring, 

 and bluefish and are particularly fond 

 of crabs, shrimp, squids, clams, and mus- 

 sels, and even lobsters, when shedding, or 

 of a sufficiently small size to be conven- 

 iently "bolted" whole. They spawn in 

 May and June; and as the number of eggs 

 cast has been estimated at 2,248,000 each, 

 it will be seen how rapid and great a 

 growth is possible. Their increase in a 

 month is i y 2 inch 5 months, 4^ 

 inches 8 months, 6 to 9 inches. After 

 that from 2 to 6 Ibs. per annum. Their 

 average weight does not exceed 20 Ibs. 



125 



