444 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
The data show that the young fish gain considerable growth during the winter, 
for some of the larger representatives of the O class, according to our measurements, 
attain a length of 75 to 80 millimeters (3 to 3.2 inches) in January when, at most, 
only 4 months old, and the average length for 570 specimens measured is 20.2 milli- 
meters (% inch). In June, when the oldest ones are about 9 months old, some of 
them have attained a length of 100 to 118 millimeters (4 to 4.6 inches) and the average 
length for 236 specimens measured is 72.1 millimeters (3 inches). In October, when 
the earliest young of this year’s class are about a year old, the largest, according to 
our data, have attained a length of 175 to 194 millimeters (7 to 7.8 inches) and the 
average length for 630 specimens is 143.4 millimeters (5.7 inches). 
The rate of growth, as shown by our data, does not differ greatly from that 
found in Texas by Pearson (1929, p. 198 to 200), who indicates, for the month of 
May, a mode for the O class at 80 and for the I class at 180 millimeters. Unfortu- 
nately, our data for May are too incomplete for comparison, but for June they show 
a mode at 70 for the O class and 175 millimeters for the I class. Therefore, the data 
indicate a somewhat slower rate of growth in North Carolina than in Texas. 
The present writers did not make a special effort, as stated elsewhere, to deter- 
mine the rate of growth of the croaker after an age of about 1 year is attained and 
have nothing to offer, other than the measurements of the older fish contained in 
Table 9. Pearson (loc. cit.) working with Texas fish found a modal length in May of 
240 millimeters (9.4 inches) for fish in their third year and 280 millimeters (11 inches) 
for those in the fourth year. Welsh and Breder (1923, p. 183) working with Atlantic 
coast fish, taken from New Jersey to Florida, indicate a modal length of 220 milli- 
meters (8% inches) for fish in their third winter and 265 millimeters (10% inches) for 
those in the fourth winter. 
It is noteworthy that the croaker and the spot, both winter spawners, whose 
young appear to be similar in habits and occupy very largely identical feeding grounds, 
grow about equally fast during the first several months of life. It has been shown, 
both for the spot and the croaker in Tables 8 and 10, that the maximum size attained 
by these species at 1 year of age, for example, is about 175 to 190 millimeters (7 to 
7.6 inches). Our records of lengths and weights, furthermore, show that examples 
of equal size of the two species at this age are nearly equal in weight; that is, fish 
7.5 inches long weigh close to 3 ounces each. These fish in part, at least, enter into 
the commercial catches made during the winter, with sink nets set off Beaufort Bar, 
as reported elsewhere in this paper. 
AGE AT SEXUAL MATURITY 
The present writers have little to offer on this subject, other than that the 
largest representatives of the croakers a year old generally have the appearance upon 
dissection of being sexually quite immature. Yet, the single specimen seen with roe 
(see p. 433) was only 170 millimeters (6.8 inches) long and, therefore, with respect to 
size falls into the 1-year class, as shown by Table 10 and Figure 59. Welsh and 
Breder (1923, p. 183) say, “Maturity is reached at the age of 3 or 4 years. ” Pearson 
(1929, p. 201), on the other hand, found “matured” croakers in Texas only 140 milli- 
meters (5% inches) long, which he judged to be in their second year. He concludes, 
“It appears, therefore, that sexual maturity must be reached and spawning take place 
for the first time at the end of the second year of life. ” 
The age attained by the croaker, or its duration of life, remains undetermined 
