538 NEW YORK STATE MUSETJM 



at Woods Hole. According to the observers of tlie Fish Commis- 

 sion this fish is decreasing rapidly in numbers. Handlining, even 

 on tlie spiuvning grounds ol¥ Hyannis was remarkably poor and 

 young fish were less numerous than usual. As a rule the first 

 adults appear in their seasonal migration during the first or 

 second week in May, when the water has reached a temperature 

 of 48° to 50° F. However, in spite of the cold of 1900, they 

 appeared at Cuttyhunk and Menemsha Bight on April 28 — with 

 one exception the earliest arrival recorded in 25 years. Formerly 

 the 3^oung were abundant everywhere, but at present they are 

 restricted to a few localities — Katama bay, Quisset harbor^ and 

 Wareham river. The first fry w^ere seined July 31 and measured 

 f of an inch in length. On October 20 young fish 2 to 3 inches 

 long were very plentiful in Katama bay. 



In 1884 the writer obtained young examples only, and these 

 in moderate numbers, at Fire Island near the end of September. 

 In 1890 a few individuals were observed in a net at Islip. In 

 1898, adults were taken in abundance offshore at Southampton 

 in August and halfgrown specimens were secured from a pound 

 at Islip. Young sea bass were rather common at Point of Woods, 

 Great South bay. Clam Pond Cove, Fire Island inlet, Oak Island 

 beach, and Nichols's Point. In the summer of 1901, early July to 

 the middle of October, only a few young individuals were taken, 

 and these were secured in eel pots off Widows' Creek, Great 

 South bay. 



The sea bass makes its appearance in Gravesend bay in 

 May. It is not abundant. The young in October are found in 

 the eel grass, measuring from IJ to 2 inches in length. The 

 species is well adapted to life in aquarium tanks during all but 

 the coldest months. 



The sea bass is distinguished for its voracity and its persistent 

 biting. The young are found in the channels of shallow bayiS and 

 about wharves and landings. Large fish frequent the offshore 

 banks where the bottom is rocky. A famous locality is Five 

 Fathom bank, off the coast of New Jersey. In the shallow 

 waters of Great Egg Harbor bay hundreds of small-sized sea 



