THE MULLET FISHERY. 557 
lowed by smaller individuals known as “frost mullet,” which remain throughout the greater part 
of the winter. The movement seems to be general along the entire coast, all fish along the Atlan- 
tic seaboard being reported as traveling southward, while those rounding Florida Keys continue 
their coastwise migrations, fradually working northward and westward towards the Texas line. 
No return movement is reported at any season along the Atlantic, though in the Gulf, after the 
spawning season is over, the fish arc said to return toward Key West. 
The movements of the fish are thought to be considerably affected by tides, currents, and 
storms; and in many localities the fishermen assert that the schools often remain in considerable 
numbers about the inlets of the bays on the flood-tide and pass out on the ebb. This is doubtless 
true to a considerable extent before the migratory season begins, but when this occurs the mullet 
seldom remain long in one locality. 
During stormy weather, when the sea is rough, the fish seek the inland channels for protec- 
tion, but during pleasant weather they are equally or even more abundant along the outer beach. 
They are said to move most rapidly during the continuance of heavy northerly winds, the signal 
for a southerly movement being a cold storm from this quarter. When the weather moderates 
they slacken their speed and become more scattered, many of the fishermen contending that they 
are then swimming about in search of food. During pleasant weather they swim at or near the sur- 
face, when their presence can be readily detected by the ripple caused by their movement through 
the water, or by the constant splashing and jumping. Their approach is frequently heralded by 
the flocks of water-birds that hover over them, and by the sharks and porpoises that gather to 
feed upon and destroy them. Mr. Stearns, in referring to this subject, says: ‘‘During the fall 
they move in such immense schools that the noise of their splashing resembles distant thunder, 
and to persons living near the bay this noise, kept up day and night, becomes very annoying.” 
“These schools,” he continues, “are followed by large numbers of sharks, porpoises, and other 
destructive fishes, as well as pelicans and similar sea-birds, that eat mullet until they can eat no 
more and have to make way for fresh arrivals.” 
In New Jersey waters the mullet make their appearance in schools about the 1st of September, 
gradually working southward and entirely disappearing by the last of October. The same is true 
for the coast between Cape May and Cape Henry, including the waters of Chesapeake Bay. 
The small fish are seen in June on the North Carolina coast, these gradually increasing in 
numbers until the first of August, when the schools have attained considerable size, but thus far 
no tendency to migrate is noticeable. A little later a southern movement begins, and school after 
school passes, the size of the individuals constantly increasing till the first of September, when 
the old or roe-mullet arrive. These often weigh from 3 to 4 pounds, and measure upwards of 20 
inches. If the weather continues pleasant they remain about the shores until the eggs have be- 
come well developed before moving southward, but at the approach of the first cold storm they are 
off and other smaller individuals follow in their wake, so that by the first of January the greater 
part have disappeared. Comparatively few are seen from that date till the following June, though 
scattering ones may be taken at anytime. They run best and most rapidly during stormy weather, 
but will not move much against a head wind or sea. The schools vary greatly in size, the average 
containing from 20 to 25 barrels of fish, though schools of 1,000 barrels are reported as not uncom- 
mon, and 600 barrels were landed at one haul of the seine, near Beaufort, in 1849. 
At Wilmington small mullet are occasionally taken at any season, though they are abundant 
from June to September only, and large ones are seen only in the fall. As at Beaufort, the mi- 
grations begin about the middle of August. The first schools are composed of fish of medium 
size, known to the fishermen as “12-inch mullet,” from the size of the mesh in which they are taken. 
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