306 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



the beach in great numbers in January, coming in to the shore when the water is warm, about 

 February, as stated. School follows school at intervals of about four or five days, when they seem 

 to go northward and to be absent from the Southern coast for several months. On their return 

 in September, after a short stay, they gradually leave the coast until they finally disappear for the 

 season. Their return season by season is very regular and definite, being relied upon with much 

 confidence. The successive "runs" do not seem to be classified in any particular way, large and 

 small fish of both sexes coming in together. The colder the weather the less tendency they appear 

 to exhibit to come towards the shore. 



At their first appearance in the spring the spawn is not appreciable, nor, according to Dr. 

 Yarrow, do they have any development of the ovaries during their stay on that coast; and he 

 is under the impression that they breed during their autumnal and winter stay farther south. 

 This, however, is scarcely probable, it being more likely that their spawning ground is more to 

 the north, perhaps off the coast of Virginia. 



They are said never to take the hook, and to be captured entirely by nets. Their presence is 

 generally made known by the schools of porpoises which follow and feed upon them. Swimming 

 low in the water, they make no ripple on the surface, as is the case with mullets. The time of their 

 capture is usually on the young flood, as in their movements along the shore they come in on the 

 rising tide and depart on the ebb. 



Like their representatives in the north, these fishes are fond of penetrating, for a short distance 

 at least, into the mouths of rivers, remaining, however, only about a week ; this, according to Dr. 

 Yarrow, is their habit on the coast of North Carolina, before leaving for the North. 



They prefer sandy and grassy bottoms, and are particularly fond of shallow water, four or five 

 feet deep, especially in still water and eddies. Their favorite food is small mullet and other dimin- 

 utive fish, as well as still more largely shrimps and small crustaceans ; while, on the other hand, 

 they are eaten voraciously by Weak-fish, bluefish, Drum, porpoises, etc. 



As already stated, this fish is seldom if ever taken with the hook, at least for purposes of the 

 market, nets being generally employed, some few being occasionally speared. They are taken in 

 seines, usually having a mesh of about one and one-half inches, made of No. 8 cotton twine, about 

 one hundred yards long arid ten feet deep. When the fish first begin to make their appearance 

 the fishermen establish themselves in their bosits, just outside the surf, and watch along the crest 

 of the breakers. When the fish are seen the net is paid out from the stern of the boat, one man 

 leaping overboard with a rope attached to one end of the net, while a man in the boat pulls rapidly 

 around the school so as to inclose it. The net is then drawn carefully to the shore. The average 

 catch of two men for a day may be set at about three hundred pounds, although a much greater 

 amount than this could be taken if desirable. 



They are used when fresh, and sent up into the small towns in the interior in large numbers. 

 The flesh is of an excellent quality, much superior to that of the Weak-fish, being firm, white, and 

 flaky, and will keep well for three or four days, unless the weather be too warm. It is sometimes 

 salted down for home use by the inhabitants along the coast, and much esteemed. Dr. Yarrow 

 estimates that about two hundred barrels were salted during the season of 1871 by the fishermen 

 in his vicinity. The fish bring about $3 per hundred at wholesale, and $5 at retail, this being equal 

 to the average for the last ten years. 



Mr. Silas Stearns has recently prepared the following notes regarding the habits of the 

 Spotted Squeteague as observed by him in the Gulf of Mexico: 



"The Spotted Trout is abundant from Key West to Mexico. In the Pensacola region it is 

 present all the year, although most abundant in summer. It prefers to remain in shoal waters 



