244 EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



weight, and being generally considerably less. The largest summer 

 specimens are those found farther to the eastward, where they are not 

 unfreqnently met with weighing from ten to fifteen pounds, although 

 this latter weight is quite unusual. Mr. Snow, however, (page 44,) men- 

 tions having seen one of twenty-two pounds, and others give, as their 

 maximum, from fourteen to twenty. The average size of the schools in 

 Vineyard Sound, during the early season, is from 5 to 7 pounds. The 

 schools, however, that make their appearance in October, embrace many 

 individuals of from 10 to 15 pounds. It is therefore not improbable that 

 the difference between, the first-mentioned average and the last repre- 

 sents the increase by their summer feeding. As already remarked, 

 blue -fish in the last century sometimes attained a weight of 40 or 50 

 pounds in Vineyard Sound ; according to Zaccheus Macy, thirty of them 

 would fill a barrel. 



On getting back to the Carolina coast in the early part of November, 

 according to Dr. Yarrow's statement, they are from 3 to 5 feet in length 

 and weigh from 10 to 20 pounds. What becomes of these large fish, that 

 so few of them are seen in the early spring, it is impossible to say. If it 

 be really true that they are much scarcer than in the fall, we may infer 

 that their increased size makes them a more ready prey to the larger 

 fish and cetaceans, or that they have accomplished their ordinary period 

 of life; possibly that they have broken up into smaller parties, less con- 

 spicuous to observation, or that they have materially changed their 

 locality. The average length of the fish that appear in the spring off 

 the coast of Virginia and the southern part of New Jersey, according to 

 Dr. Coues, Dr. Yarrow, and my own observations, is about one foot, 

 being probably about one year old. As a general rule, those of the 

 smaller size keep close to the shore, and canal ways be met with, while 

 the larger ones go in schools, and remain farther outside. 



I was unable to obtain any very young fish about Wood's Hole in 

 1871, the smallest found making their appearance quite suddenly along 

 the coast, especially in the little bays, about the middle of August, and 

 then measuring about 5 inches by 1.20. By the end of September, 

 however, these had reached a length of 7 or 8 inches, and at the age of 

 about a year they probably constitute the 12 or 14 inch fish referred to 

 as occurring along the southern coast. The fish of the third year, or 

 those two years old, are possibly the 3-pound fish, while the 5 to 7 

 pound fish maybe considered a year older still. Accurate observations 

 are wanting, however, to determine these facts; as also whether they 

 require two years, or three or more, to attain sufficient maturity for 

 breeding. As far as I know, there is no appreciable difference between 

 the sexes in their rate of growth or weight, excepting that the female is 

 likely to be a little deeper in the body. 



I have already referred to the principal facts connected with the 

 migrations and movements of the blue-fish-, and especially their arrival 

 and departure. As already suggested, they appear to start along the 

 southern coast in April, and move northward, paralle.1 with the coast, 

 in very large bodies, and extending sometimes several miles outside of 

 the shore-line. Their presence at the surface is usually indicated by 

 their "breaking," apparently in pursuit of their prey, and by the flocks 

 of gulls and terns which hover over them. The birds become exceed- 

 ingly eager on the occasion, and may be seen crowding together and 

 darting continually at their food upon the surface of the water. No 

 surer evidence of the presence of a school of blue-fish or Spanish mack- 

 erel, off the middle coast of the United States, can be given, in the 

 summer-time, than the sight of gulls and terns so occupied. 



