FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
195 
bay; otherwise it is difficult to account for the schools of fry slightly more than 1 inch long present 
in the lower bay beginning in April. These 1-inch fry probably are found along our entire coast, 
from Viiginia to Texas, in the spring, for we have found them in North Carolina and along various 
parts of the Florida coast. It is not believed that these young migrate from southern waters to 
Chesapeake Bay. 
The growth of the mullet fry is very slow during the winter, at least in the more northern waters. 
At Beaufort, Jacot (1920, p. 203), on December 22, collected fish 22 to 32 millimeters long. He 
found them the same size during January and early February and only 24 to 36 millimeters by 
February 24. These represented the full range of the sizes caught during each period. Many 
young mullets of the following sizes were collected in Chesapeake Bay: April, 25 to 36 millimeters; 
May, 30 to 49 millimeters; June, 43 to 60 millimeters. At the same time, and throughout the 
summer and fall, larger mullets were taken as follows: April, 175 to 194 millimeters; May, 118 to 
160 millimeters; June, 102 to 132 millimeters; July, 113 to 167 millimeters; August, 150 to 155 
millimeters; September, 107 to 200 millimeters; October, 230 to 301 millimeters. 
The growth of the young during the spring appears to be quite regular, but we are unable to 
follow this growth after June. It is difficult to determine the age and growth of larger fish with 
the limited data at hand. In the spring, schools of mullets 4 to 6 inches long are rather common; 
in the summer, 5 to 8 inches; and in the fall 8 to 12 inches. However, mullets 4 to 12 inches long 
are taken throughout this period. Jacot (1920, p. 220) believes that, according to their scales, 
5 to 8 inch jumping mullets arriving in April at Beaufort, N. C., are 14 to 17 months old. 
The mullets in 1920 ranked thirteenth in quantity and fourteenth in value in Chesapeake Bay, 
the total catch amounting to 282,020 pounds, worth approximately $10,207. 
In Maryland the mullets ranked tenth in quantity and twelfth in value, the catch being 
35,337 pounds, value at $1,861. Approximately 36 per cent of this amount was caught in fyke 
nets, 23 per cent in haul seines, 21 per cent in gill nets, and 20 per cent in pound nets. The 
counties taking the largest quantities were Cecil, Kent, and Somerset. 
In Virginia the mullets ranked eleventh in quantity and fourteenth in value, the catch being 
246,683 pounds, valued at $8,346. Approximately 85 per cent of this amount was caught with 
gill nets, 14 per cent with haul seines, and 1 per cent in pound nets. The counties making the 
largest catches were Norfolk, Elizabeth City, Accomac, and Princess Anne. It is believed that 
a large part of the catch credited to Norfolk County was actually taken in North Carolina waters. 16 
The striped mullet is taken in the Chesapeake from June until November. It is found in all 
parts of the bay, particularly on the western shore, which is considerably broken up with islands, 
small bays, and creeks. It is especially common in Mobjack Bay, the lower York River, Back 
River, and Lynnhaven Bay. 
The first run of fish usually appears in the lower part of the bay some time in June. The 
fish at this season are scarcely large enough to make fishing profitable, however, as they are only 
about 5 to 7 inches in length. As the season advances the size of the fish caught increases, and by 
September and October, when a definite run of fish occurs, the usual length is 10 to 12 inches. 
Fishermen and people residing along the water front catch a large number of mullets for their 
own use, of which no record is obtainable. During October, when the mullets are most abundant, 
of fair size, and in prime condition, many are caught with small seines and salted down for home 
consumption during the winter months. In the vicinity of Back River and Buckroe Beach as 
many as six small fishing crews are commonly seen at one time during October watching for schools 
of mullets. As the striped mullet usually betrays its presence by its habit of jumping out of the 
water, a practiced eye can discern an approaching school of fish at a considerable distance. The 
fish usually follow the shore and therefore are captured rather easily if the fishermen use precision 
and speed, for the mullet is an elusive fish. It is a fast swimmer and a good jumper, and when 
no other avenue of escape is available many indit iduais often obtain their freedom by jumping 
over the net. (An account of the methods used for catching mullet is given by Schroeder, 1924, 
p. 36.) A typical crew for catching mullets for home consumption is composed of the owner of the 
seine and several of his neighbors, who fish together and share the catch. 
16 The catch of mullets assigned to Virginia from Norfolk County, quite certainly is too great because of the shipment of 
mullets from North Carolina waters through the inland waterway to Norfolk City. However, it is impossible to separate or even 
to estimate with a degree of accuracy the fish taken locally and those coming from North Carolina. 
