38 THE TARPON 



of numerous concentrie rings, the distance between 

 whicli varies in a definite manner. The Summer 

 growth is represented by well separated rings, while 

 the narrow compressed^ rings indicate the Winter 

 growth. Each band of Summer and Winter growth, 

 therefore, represent a year of the fish's life and its 

 age can be determined by counting the number of Win- 

 ter rings on the scale. 



There is probably a checking of the growth during"^ 

 the spawning season and the rings may also indicate 

 the cessation of growth due to that condition. 



I have carefully collected the scales from: various 

 tarpon and ' submitted them to Ichthyologists for ex- 

 amination. The tarpon is a warm water predacious 

 fish, living in the midst af plenty. It does not hiber- 

 nate and may grow steadily throughout the year. 

 Apparently, its scales show no Winter or Summer 

 areas similar to the fishes living in colder waters. If 

 there is any cessation of growth during the spawning 

 period the rings do not appear to reflect it. In any 

 event I have found no one able to read the scales. It 

 is not necessary to weary the reader with a recital of 

 the investigations which have been made to determine 

 the age of the fish by other methods, for so far they 

 have- led to nothing. 



Fish of the same species differ greatly in their rate 

 of growth, dependent upon the nature and abundance 

 of the food they eat and the waters they inhabit. Gill 

 is of the opinion that the tarpon first spawns in the 

 third or fourth year. After an examination of the 

 rate of growth of many different fishes I can perceive 



