576 NATUEAL HISTOEY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



Popular names. — "The Gulf Menhaden has several vernacular names. At Key West it is 

 called 'Sardine,' in common with other fish of the same general appearance. At Apalachicola, 

 Pensacola, and Mobile it is called 'Alewife'; at 'New Orleans the names 'Sardine' and 'Alewife' 

 are both in use, the latter perhaps more generally. On the Texan coast itis known as 'Herring,' 

 'Alewife,' ' Sardine,' and ' Shad,' each locality having its peculiar name. 



"I have observed the Gulf Menhaden from Key West to the Texan coast, and am told that its 

 range extends along the Mexican coast. It seems to be most abundant along the coast between 

 Cedar Keys and New Orleans. On other parts it is only an ordinarily common fish or an occasional 

 visitor. My observations have been made at Pensacola, where their movements are as follows : 

 On the first calm, warm days of AprU many small schools appear in the bays and sounds. Prom 

 the first appearance of these schools they can be seen at all times in fine weather until late in the 

 summer, when they disappear. They remain in these bays until late in November and December, 

 but keep to deeper waters, and are seen, after the close of summer, only when taken in nets. 



Movements. — "The first which arrive measure only five to six inches. In June they average 

 seven inches, and schools have been observed composed of fish of different sizes, as five, six, seven, 

 and eight inches long. In July the average size is about eight inches, and in August, September, and 

 October the individuals composing the schools measure seven, eight, nine, and ten inches in length. 

 Those fish caught in October and November in nets are eleven, twelve, and thirteen inches long, 

 and are probably full-grown. In fine weather they are first seen approaching the cpast in large 

 schools, but if windy and cold they are not seen until they have entered the bay and the weather 

 has become pleasant. When once inside the large schools are broken up into many small schools, 

 which swim at the surface, rippling the water as they go. Their movements seem not to be afi'ected 

 by the tide. Their favorite feeding or playing grounds are in quiet bayous, creeks, and nooks in 

 the bay, where they are unmolested by larger fishes of prey. Brackish water is also much sought 

 by them, and 1 think most, if not all, of them visit it some time during the season. A person sta- 

 tioned at the mouth of a fresh-water stream or river, in August or September, will see little schools 

 of these fish swimming round and round at the surface, just where the two kinds of water meet. 

 As they become accustomed to the fresh water they enter the stream and move upwards until they 

 reach a quiet creek or bayou. How long they stay in the river I cannot determine, for I have 

 noticed as many moving down as up stream. Late in SeiJtember and October very few or none 

 are seen at the surface of the water, but I have caught many in the river and at its mouth at that 

 season, proving that they are still present. About the first of November I have known of a few 

 being taken in gill-nets in or about the rivers. During the months September and October they 

 are rarely seen in salt water, but come to notice again in November, by being taken in small quan- 

 tities in seines along the outside beaches with other fish, such asblueflsh, channel bass, and sheeps- 

 head. After a few catches in November and December we see or hear nothing more of them until 

 the following spring ; but from this we cannot safely conclude that they have left these waters, 

 for the proper nets (gill-nets) in which to catch them in deep water are but little used in this 

 vicinity, and if they remained they would not be observed. 



Messmates. — " When the Gulf Menhaden arrive in spring, each one has a parasite in its mouth, 

 a crustacean called Oymothoa prcegmtator. This animal is found always in one position, clinging 

 with its hooked claws to the roof of the fish's mouth, with its head looking outward and very near 

 to the jaw of the fish. These parasites remain with the Menhaden as long as the latter is in salt 

 water; in brackish water they are less frequently observed, disappearing altogether in fresh water. 

 With all the fall fish of this species which I have examined there were no parasites. The fish do 



