Contributions from the Biological Laboratory of the U. S. Fish Commission, 
Woods Hole, Massachusetts. 
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE HISTORY OF THE YOUNG SQUETEAGUE. 
By CABL H. EIGENMANN, 
Professor of Zoology , University of Indiana. 
In July, 1900, I was instructed by the U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries 
to make certain studies of the squeteague, in accordance with the following: 
The Commission desires that you take up the study of the young squeteague ( Cynoscion regalis) 
which is found schooling in Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay, and other waters of southern New 
England. As the squeteague is one of the most important food-fishes of this region, a more thorough 
knowledge of the young is very much needed. The following topics are suggested for your consider- 
ation: Habits; physical and biological surroundings; food; enemies; diseases; sexual conditions; rate 
of growth; changes in appearance incident to growth; length of sojourn in local waters; movements 
preceding and attending departure; route of migration, etc. 
1 herewith present my report on the work done during July, August, and 
September of 1900. I take pleasure in acknowledging my indebtedness to the 
director of the Woods Hole laboratory, Dr. H. C. Buinpus. Mr. Vinal N. Edwards, 
the collector of the station, has in most cases selected the site for making examina- 
tions, and, owing to his long experience, his advice has always been of great value. 
I am indebted to him for his ever-ready assistance. 
I have not been able to approach a solution on the following topics: 
(1) The diseases of the young squeteague, if it has any, are not known. The 
Peridinium which is destructive to the adult is probably also destructive to the young. 
The appearance of the Peridinium is periodic, with long intervals between. After the 
young leave the shallow water they are probably subject to the same enemies that 
the young of all fish are subject to, viz, adult squeteague and blue-fish. 
(2) The line of migration has not been even remotely established. 
DISTRIBUTION OF YOUNG SQUETEAGUE. 
During the early period covered by this report, the latter half of July and 
August, 1900, the only location where young squeteague were found in Buzzards Bay 
was in the extreme upper parts, near Wareham. Mi - . Edwards states that this is the 
only place where he has secured them during corresponding periods in previous 
years. In the region mentioned they were found in loose schools, 1 with occasionally 
stray individuals. Only occasionally a single individual was found in a haul of the 
1 The following record of catches near Wareham may be of interest as bearing on the matter of schooling: 
July 25. First haul, about 100: second haul, about 25, made alongside the first. 
Aug. 2. First haul, 7; succeeding hauls, none. 
Aug. 9. First haul, 1; second haul, 6; third haul, none; made side by side. 
Aug. 22. Three specimens in one haul, none in six other hauls. 
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