FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
25 
The starfish does not appear to have undergone a general decline. Compara- 
tively large fluctuations have taken place, however. The largest yearly catch for 
the period 1912 to 1922, for which records are available, occurred in 1912. Here, as 
with the butterfish, it is impossible to know whether this is a “normal” catch as 
compared with immediately preceding years. The smallest catch for the entire 
period was made in 1916, and from the beginning of the period to that time the trend 
was decidedly downward, and thereafter it was definitely upward. A trend based 
on the average of the total catch for each half of the entire period shows a decline 
of 3.4 per cent. Determining a trend in the same way (omitting, however, the 
catch for 1912), an increase of 12 per cent is evident. 
0. — Graphic representation of the number of pounds 
of kingfish ( Menticirrhus americanus, M. saxatalis, and M. 
littoralis) taken from 1908 to 1922 at the Buchanan Bros, 
fishery, arranged by years. The quantities of kingfish 
caught in seines, when they were operated, was rather 
insignificant, and in any event did not affect the catches 
made during the spring, when the largest quantities were 
taken. A pronounced decline in the abundance of the 
kingfishes, therefore, is certain and undeniable. The 
straight, heavy line shows the general trend in the quan- 
tities caught 
1916, and thereafter a decline took place 
to 1922) for which statistics are at hand is 
of the catch arrived at as before. 
April May .Tune July Aug. Sept. Oct Nov 
Fig. 21.— Graphic representation of the number of 
pounds of kingfish ( Menticirrhus americanus, M. 
saxatalis , and M. littoralis ) taken from 1908 to 1922 
at the Buchanan Bros, fishery, arranged by months. 
This species usually is taken in commercial quanti- 
ties first sometime during April. 
Very large fluctuations have occurred 
in the catch of croakers. The catches for 
1908, 1909, and 1913 were almost negli- 
gible. Later followed some very large 
catches, the largest being taken in 1916. An 
upward trend is evident from 1908 to 
. The increase for the entire period (1908 
42.6 per cent, as shown by general averages 
The catch of summer flounders was quite stationary from 1912 to 1918. In 1919 
a considerable decline took place. This small catch, however, was followed by large 
catches during the next three years. The increase of the catch of the second half 
over that of the first half of the period (1912 to 1922) for which records are at hand 
