HABITS OF THE SILVER SIDES. 457 



immense schools, generally those of the same size together; they vary in length from half an 

 inch to seven inches. They apparently breed throughout the hot season. Individuals two and 

 a half inches long, taken in the Little ITarbor, Wood's Holl, Massachusetts, July 2, 1875, were full 

 of ripe spawn and milt which they yielded freely. 



Capt. John B. Smith, of New Bedford, furnishes an interesting account of the spawning of 

 this fish, Menidia notata, as witnessed by him during a visit to the head of Buzzard's Bay, on the 

 13th of June, 1872. He observed great numbers of the fish in the sedge grass, in the afternoon of 

 thai day, when the falling tide was about one-fourth down. The fish cainc in a body into shallow 

 water, within three feet of the shore, then darted among the grass, and rolled over from one side 

 to the other, struggling with all their strength, some of them jumping entirely out of the water 

 while in the operation. The eggs were then to be seen fastened in sheets and in masses to the 

 ^ra-s, like frogs' eggs in a mill-pond. These were about the size of No. 9 shot. During the 

 operation of spawning, which lasted about a minute, the fish were very sluggish, and could readily 

 he taken with the hand. The number of fish engaged in spawning was so great that the water 

 was quite whitened with the milt, and the grass was so full of the eggs that they could be taken 

 up by the handful. Eels and small fishes of various kinds were attracted there in great numbers, 

 helping themselves to the dainty repast. 



In addition to consuming great quantities of food such as has been described, it was found that 

 they were very destructive to the eggs of other fishes. Although not generally eaten, they are finely 

 flavored and an excellent article of food, not very greatly inferior to smelt. Uhler and Lugger are 

 quite mistaken in their opinion that this species is the gudgeon of Maryland and Virginia, which 

 is in fact a fresh-water fish, Hybo gnathus regius, together with one or two other species which are 

 apparently often included under the same name. 



In Florida this fish is re'placed by two or three others belonging to the same family, which, 

 though very abundant, are of no special importance except as food for other fishes. 



On the California coast this family is of much greater importance, two of the species being in 

 high favor as food. These are the so-called "California Smelt" and "Little Smelt" Of the former 

 Jordan writes: "This species, the California Smelt. Atherinopsis calif or niensis, is everywhere 

 known as the ' Smelt' It reaches a length of about eighteen inches, and the average size as seen 

 in the markets is not much below this. It ranges from Cape Mendocino to Magdalena Bay, 

 inhabiting especially rocky bays sheltered from the waves. It occurs in great schools, and is 

 extremely abundant It is non-migratory. Its food consists chiefly of worms and small crusta- 

 ceans. It is a fish of fine, firm flesh and good flavor, although a little dry. From its great abund- 

 ance it is one of the most important food fishes on the coast, being never absent from the markets. 

 It is often used as bait, especially for the rock- fish." 



Of the Little Smelt he writes as follows: "The Little Smelt, Atherinops affiniii, or Petite Smelt, 

 reaches a length of about a foot. It associates with the 'California Smelt,' being scarcely less 

 abundant. It is, however, more often found in sheltered, sandy bays and lagoons than the other 

 species, and is sometimes found in brackish water. As a food fish it is equal to the California 

 Smelt, but from its smaller size is of less value. Both species are greedily devoured by the larger 

 predatory fishes." 



155. THE STICKLEBACK FAMILY GASTEROSTEID-E. 



The Sticklebacks are represented on our Atlantic coast by three species: The fonr-spined 

 Stickleback, Apcltf* quadrants, which is found in brackish water from Cape Ann southward at 

 least to New Jersey; the ten-spined Stickleback, Qasterosieus pungitius, associated with the 

 preceding, and found also in fresh water; the two-spined Stickleback, Gasterosteu* acuteatus, 



