158 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
at Cape May, N. J., in 1919. The largest fish in the sample was 49 cm. (191 inches) 
long and had apparently attained an age of 9 years. 
Estimated average length. 
First winter 10-13 cm. (4-5$ inches). 
Second winter 21 cm. (8$ inches). 
Third winter 28 cm. (11 inches). 
Fourth winter 33 cm. (13 inches). 
Fifth winter 36 cm. (14$ inches). 
These figures differ from those obtained by Taylor (1916). Taylor overlooked 
the frequent absence of the first winter ring on the scales, and most of his “first 
year” fish really represent the second year. With this exception his results com- 
pare fairly well with the above. 
AGE AT MATURITY. 
The first spawning occurs at an age of 3 to 4 years for the females and 2 to 3 
years for the males. Subsequent spawning occurs annually throughout life. In 
the sample of fish from the Cape May spawning grounds the majority were from 
4 to 6 years old and the 5-year-old fish were the most numerous. 
SIZE AND WEIGHT ATTAINED. 
The average weight of Cynoscion regalis, as marketed, is from 1 to 2 pounds, 
but fish weighing 10 to 15 pounds are not uncommon, and a weight of 30 pounds 
has been recorded. 
The correlation of weight and length in this species has been studied by Crozier 
and Hecht (1914), who found that the weight of fish taken in the summer months 
might be expressed by the equation: Weight in grams = (0.00877) X (length in cm.) 3 . 
The following list gives average length and corresponding average weights of 
summer-caught fish : 
Length. 
30-35 cm. (12-14 inches)... 
35-40 cm. (14-15| inches).. 
40-45 cm. (15f-17f inches). 
45-50 cm. (173-19$ inches). 
50-55 cm. (19f-21f inches). 
55-60 cm. (21 f-23$ inches). 
60-65 cm. (23$-25$ inches). 
65-70 cm. (25$-27$ inches). 
Weight. 
300- 450 g. ($-1 pound). 
450- 600 g. (1-1$ pounds). 
600- 750 g. (1$-1$ pounds). 
750-1, 050 g. (l§-2$ pounds). 
1, 050-1, 500 g. (2$-3$ pounds). 
1, 500-1, 950 g. (3$— 4$ pounds). 
1, 950-2, 250 g. (4$-5 pounds). 
2, 250-2, 700 g. (5-6 pounds). 
MOVEMENTS AND SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION. 
Very little is known regarding the migrations of Cynoscion regalis. The fish 
are generally found in schools, usually small, but sometimes of great size. In the 
Chesapeake and Delaware regions the fish first appear late in April; in Buzzards 
Bay, early in May. In the Delaware and Chesapeake the schools first move up 
the bays until water of a low salinity is encountered, when they turn back and 
move seaward, spawning just within or near the mouths of the larger estuaries. 
After spawning the fish return to the ocean, remaining near the coast until July 
or August, when they again seek the bays and sounds. These remarks apply to 
the main body of fish. Many small schools seem not to join in the general move- 
ment but to remain in the bays and sounds throughout the summer, and it seems 
