300 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Proportions of male and female smelts, and range in size of each sex 
Date 
Number 
exam- 
ined 
Number 
of 
males 
Number 
of 
females 
Size 
of 
males 
Size 
of 
females 
Apr. 18, 1910 
493 
871 
1,336 
213 
465 
771 
1, 000 
186 
28 
100 
336 
27 
Inches 
4-7 
4-7 
3M-7K 
3M-5 % 
Inches 
4-7 
4-8 M 
4-8 
3H-4H 
Do . 
Apr. 19, 1910 
Apr. 24, 1910 
SCHOOLING AT THE SURFACE 
The present writer knows of but two published references to the surface school- 
ing habits of fresh-water smelts. One of these is that of Mead (1883), who wrote 
under the heading “October Frolics”: 
I have made mention of seeing smelts come to the surface of the lake for a frolic, or “ sun 
bath,” food or in migrations, I cannot say which, if either. One calm October day I was out on 
Long Pond in a boat with a party of young gentlemen. Some one noticed ripples on the water 
and remarked that a breeze was coming. Soon another said “ it must be a queer breeze, for it 
only stirs the water in patches.” After watching the phenomenon a few minutes one of the party 
suggested that it must be caused by smelts, as he had heard of them making their appearance in 
this way. Soon they came nearer, and by keeping perfectly still we had an opportunity to witness 
what was a novelty to many of us. The disturbance of the surface of the lake was caused by the 
smelts throwing themselves quite or nearly out of the water as though enjoying a lively game of 
gymnastics. Where fifty to a hundred would come to the surface, thousands were moving below 
in a direct line, in close order and with as much precision as a regiment of soldiers would march in 
review. The number of such schools in sight, as far as we could see in either direction, gave us 
some idea of the immense numbers of little smelts the pond contained. The dropping of an oar 
or the splash of a paddle would send them down out of sight as quick as thought. 
The other reference is to smelt of Lake Champlain (see p. 326). 
The present writer often has observed the schooling movements of smelts in 
Sebago Lake. Such schools, however, were always made up of the small form and 
young smelts. The schooling was not restricted to “ October frolics, ” but on almost 
any calm day, particularly toward evening, the fish might be observed, sometimes 
moving in a definite direction, sometimes apparently simply loitering in one or another 
locality or moving about in no definite direction. The school manifested itself by a 
rippling of the surface of the water, and when near enough and moving quickly 
caused a sound much like that of a fine rain upon the water. The larger fish, which 
were judged to be adults of the small form, often would leap from the water, some- 
times almost vertically but more often in a forward movement, much in the manner 
of a porpoise. When near enough to be seen, always there were fish below the sur- 
face that appeared not to jump at all, and often these fish were in tiers, about as 
described by Mead. 
The following are chronological notes of some of the observations made by the 
present writer, which indicate that schooling takes place at no particular season of 
the year. It should be mentioned that the supposed adult fish never were seen near 
shore, but young smelts in the translucent stage often were. 
June 15, 1899 . — During the forenoon the sky was overcast and there was an 
easterly breeze; later it became calm. From Whites Point nearly to Squaw Island, 
