392 NATURAL HISTOEY OP AQT7ATIC ANIMALS. 



for themselves. The younger fish probably feed as soon as they reach the shores. No remains of 

 fish have hitherto been found in the stomachs of Scup, and we may conclude that they are not 

 piscivorous. 



"Although the period and the general region where the eggs are deposited has been pretty 

 well ascertained, I regret that nothing is known of the peculiar method by which this is accom- 

 plished. I have been informed (page 47) that, on hauling up of anchors of boats that have been 

 lying overnight in two fathoms of water, the rope is frequently found coated with spawn sticking 

 upon it. The eggs are doubtless fertilized as discharged, and probably adhere to the gravel, grass, 

 and other objects at the bottom; but as to the precise period of development, nothing is known. 



"Inceeasino abundance of Scup. — According to Captain Ashby, of Noank, the young 

 Scup have been extremely abundant in Buzzard's Bay during the summer of 1877, he himself 

 having turned out 2,500 barrels from a small pound worked by him at the Wepeckets, opposite 

 Naushon. He estimates that at least 25,000 barrels have been thus liberated from the various 

 pounds in Buzzard's Bay. In 1880 immense numbers of young Scuppaug were noticed in Narra- 

 gansett Bay. 



" The Scup, like other shore fish, not unfrequently suffer from changes of weather. Mr. South- 

 wick informed me that he has evidence to show that in the early part of May in 1809, 1818, and 

 1838, after a cold spell in each of those years, large numbers were thrown on the shore. On the 

 29th of November, 1871, there was a fall of snow at Wood's HoU, and the next day Scup and sea- 

 bass came ashore in considerable numbers, generally, according to Mr. Edwards, about ten Scup 

 to every yard along the shore for a considerable distance. They were, however, all small fish. 

 While Scup were in greatest abundance, the other fish observed were sea-bass, butter-flsh, mullet, 

 etc. Similar facts have been observed in regard to tautog, which indeed seemed to suffer very 

 much more than Scup from this agency. 



" As may be inferred from what has already been said, the market at the present time is sup- 

 plied with Scup from the spring traps and pounds, the capture by these means having become 

 almost entirely exclusive. Formerly, however, they could be taken with the hook from the latter 

 end of May until the end of October, and in any desired abundance. There is no fish on the 

 American coast that bites so freely when abundant, and which can be captured with so much ease. 



"I am informed by Mr. Dunham that in the deep holes of the pond at Nantucket, where he 

 has been with his boat, he has sometimes thrown a stone overboard so as to give the Scup a start 

 toward the shore, and then following and throwing his dog overboard, he has driven the fish clear 

 out of the water upon the beach, and has taken as many as five hundred in this way at one time. 

 A similar mode of capture was reported to me as having taken place in the pond at Menemsha 

 Bight. 



"The value of the Scup as a marketable fish varies, of course, with the supply; and while 

 they have been sold in early times as low as from ten to twenty-five cents a barrel, and were used 

 as a manure, they are now too scarce for any such purpose. They were worth in 1871 from six to 

 eight cents a pound at Newport, and about two cents at Hyannis. At New Bedford they generally 

 brought ten cents as a maximum price. 



"On the coast of Carolina they are said to prefer deep, clear water, with rocky bottom, 

 although they may be taken in almost any locality in the region of their occurrence. 



"The Scup remain along the northern coast until about the middle of October, when the 

 larger ones, at least, begin to leave the shores and move out into deeper water. Mr. Vinal 

 Edwards has, however, taken young fish at Wood's HoU as late as the 10th of December, and 

 Capt. John Eogers, of Noank, states that, in fishing for cod on Nantucket Shoals late in Novem- 



