234 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



the beginning of September. These almost exclusively, contained shells 

 of various genera, with some worms, and a few amphipods. 



Like all other small fish, they are devoured by their more rapacious 

 fellows, and very largely by blue-fish, notwithstanding a general impres- 

 sion to the contrary. The extent to which this takes place will be con- 

 sidered under the head of the blue-fish. Halibut, cod, sharks, and other 

 ground-feeders, likewise use them up in great numbers. 



As already remarked, the breeding-fish do not appear to feed on their 

 first arrival, being then too much occupied in carrying out the reproduct- 

 ive function. As, however, they can be taken with tbe hook about the 1st 

 of June, we may infer that this is about the time they begin to feed 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 depos- 

 ited has been pretty well ascertained, I regret that nothing is known of 

 the peculiar method by which this is accomplished. I have been in- 

 formed (page 47) that on hauling up of anchors of boats that have been 

 lying over night 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 ob- 

 jects at the bottom; but as to the precise period of development, noth- 

 ing is known. 



The scup, like other shore-fish, not unfreqiiently suffer from changes 

 of weather. Mr. Southwick informed me that he has evidence to show 

 that in the early part of May in 1809, 1817, 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 Hole, and 

 the next day scup and sea-bass came ashore in considerable num- 

 bers, 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-fish, mullet, &c. 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 supplied 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 whenabun- 

 dant, 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 w r ater upon the beach, and has taken as many as five 

 hundred in this way at one time. A similar mode of capture was re- 

 ported 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 10 

 to 25 cents a barrel, and were used as a manure, they are now too scarce 

 for any such purpose. They were worth in 1871 from 6 to 8 cents a 

 pound at Newport and about 2 cents at Hyannis. At New Bedford they 

 generally brought 10 cents as a maximum price. 



On the coast of Carolina they are said to prefer deep, clear water, 



