XVI 
10. Have never seen a ripe female rock weighing less than 
fifteen or twenty pounds, and but five under twenty pounds. 
They were all small rock. The roe has the appearance of 
smelt. We catch at least nine male rock where we catch one 
female. 
11. The largest rock I have ever caught was five feet one 
inch long and weighed 92J pounds, and was in a spawning 
condition when caught. The increase in weight for the first 
year is from 2J to 3 pounds, the second year, 4 to 6 pounds, 
third year, 8 to 12 pounds, fourth year, 12 to 20 pounds, at 
which age they mature for propagation. 
12. All small rock have the same appearance until they 
attain the weight of 16 or 20 pounds ; then nine-tenths of the 
catch of rock are females. How do you account for that \ 
13. I don’t think the rock-fish is destructive. They are 
river scavengers, and in cold weather move in immense schools, 
taking up useless little pests, such as minnows, mill-roach, 
sun-fish and other small fry that destroy the food of more 
delicate fish. In summer they scatter all over the river and 
feed on the accumulated pests. At the approach of frost they 
form schools and move to and fro in the water. 
H. B. I would call your attention to the protection of the 
alewife. I think the law should prohibit the catching of them 
at all times when it could be avoided. They are fish that 
prey on the fish-leach, flea and fish-lice that inhabit the waters 
in large numbers, much to the annoyance of the fish. Their 
young are eaten by rock in large numbers. 
Littleton Smith, of Wicomico County. 
I. I have for twenty-five years. 
2. In the Wicomico Biver. 
3. I have. 
4. They are more abundant about the last of April and the 
first of May than at any other time. 
5. I have not kept an account of the number of fish caught 
or temperature of the water. 
6. The catch of shad was larger this year than for several 
