188 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [4] 



Loligo pealii, Lesueur. 



This is the common squid of the Atlantic coast of the United States; 

 it is found from South Carolina to Cape Ann, Massachusetts, but is 

 most abundant in Long Island and Vineyard Sounds. In depth it ranges 

 from low-water mark to 50 fathoms ; it is one of the Decapods or ten- 

 armed class, of the Dibranchiata, or free-swimming cephalopods with 

 but two branchiae. As indicated by its classification, it has ten arms, 

 two of which are tentacular, club-shaped at the extremities, and longer 

 than the other eight. In the male the left ventral arm is modified to 

 subserve the peculiar reproductive process characteristic of the cephal- 

 opods, and under the head of the female is a horseshoe-shaped tubercle 

 for the same purpose. In this, as in other species, the integument 

 of the body is provided with numerous little sacs, containing pigment 

 granules of different colors, and called cromatophores ; by contract 

 iug and expanding these, the animal can change its color with great 

 rapidity. Professor Yerrill describes a male specimen of Loligo pealii 

 as having the upper surface of body, head, and caudal fin covered with 

 rather large, circular cromatophores, but towards the margin of the fin 

 and on the head the spots are smaller and less numerous, and the bluish- 

 white body color more perceptible. Over most of the dorsal surface the 

 cromatophores are arranged in circular groups, the center beiug a large, 

 round spot of dark purple ; this is surrounded by a circle of ground color, 

 a circle of cromatophores of lake-red aud pink, and a deeper lying circle 

 of pale canary-yellow ones. When expanded the cromatophores are 

 light to dark red, varying to purplish-red and pink; when contracted 

 they become small points of brownish -purple. On the lower side the 

 cromatophores are thinly scattered, and the dominant color is the blue- 

 white of the body. The general appearance of the animal is reddish- 

 brown. The arms are marked similarly to the lower part of the body ; 

 the eye is covered with a transparent membrane, and the pupils are 

 brown or deep bluish-black. The body is somewhat elongated in form, 

 and the caudal fin is long-rhomboida], the outer angles obtusely rounded, 

 and, in large specimens, its length is about two-thirds that of the body; 

 when full grown the animal is from 6 inches to 1 foot long. The sexes 

 are separated and reproduction is accomplished by means of the hecto- 

 cotylized arm and horseshoe-shaped sucker. The spawning season lasts 

 throughout the summer, but most of the eggs are laid in June and July. 

 They are contained in long, gelatinous capsules, which are attached in 

 clusters, often 6 and 8 inches in diameter, to seaweed, stones, and shells, 

 or other common support. Each capsule is from 2 to 3 inches long, and 

 contains from 20 to 200 eggs. Like the other species, this is nocturnal 

 and gregarious in its habits. The schools are usually composed of indi- 

 viduals of the same size and age; when this is not the case the larger 

 and older squids have been observed actively engaged in destroying 

 and devouring their smaller companions. They also prey upon many 



