LIFE HISTORY OF THE STRIPED BASS 
839 
The early growth of striped bass appears quite rapid, for larvae hatched at 
Weldon, N. C., on May 14-16, 1937, and planted in a pond at Edenton, N. C., several 
days after hatching, attained a total length of 30-33 mm (1% in.) by June 10, less than 
a month after hatching. 
The maximum growth of the striped bass is indicated by the capture of several 
fish at Edenton in April 1891, weighing about 125 pounds each. It is of interest to 
note that Worth (1882) recorded a seine catch of striped bass at Avoca, N. C., on May 
6, 1876, composed of 840 fish, totaling over 35,000 pounds. Three hundred and fifty 
fish are said to have averaged 65 pounds each. 
A female striped bass kept on exhibition at the New York Aquarium for over 19 
years reached only 20 pounds. It is assumed that this fish did not reach its full 
CMS. O 10 ao 30 40 30 
INS. 0 3B 7.9 11.8 15.7 19.7 
Figure 20.— Length-frequency distributions of striped bass taken principally during summers of 1931 and 1932 in Chesapeake Bay. 
The smaller distribution of O age-group taken in early July; larger distribution iu late August. The distribution of 1 age-group 
taken during July and August. The smaller distribution of II age-group taken in July; larger distribution in August. The III 
age-group taken from April to June and composed of mature male fish. 
development in captivity where variety of food and freedom of movement were re- 
stricted. Length-weight and length-age correlations for California fish (Scofield, 1932) 
are given in figure 21. 
FOOD HABITS 
The striped bass is carnivorous, predacious, and an active feeder. The species is 
known to consume all kinds of fishes and crustaceans. Shad, river herring, and men- 
haden are favorite prey in fresh and brackish waters, while crabs and lobsters are 
eaten along rocky coast lines. Shrimps, squids, clams, and other crustaceans have 
been noted in the stomachs of striped bass taken along the Atlantic seaboard. Young 
striped bass reared in aquaria were fed live Daphnia. Young fish taken in the Hudson 
River were found to feed largely on the shrimp, Gammarus (Curran, 1937). 
