INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE HISTORY OF THE YOUNG SQUETEAGUE. 
47 
Of 7 specimens, with an average length of 89.5 mm., 4 contained shrimp, 2 con- 
tained debris of fish, and 1 was empty. 
Of 3 specimens, with an average length of 117 mm., all contained shrimp and 
hsh, the latter in excess of the former. 
The details of the food of 6 small specimens from Providence may be given here: 
No. of 
speci- 
men. 
Length 
of speci- 
men. 
Stomach contents. 
1 
mm. 
33 
Fragments of 8 small shrimp. 
2 
33 
Fragments of 11 shrimp (heads with eye-stalks forming the basis of the 
3 
45 
count); 3 silversides, longest 11 mm. 
13 shrimp, 3 silversides. 
4 
61 
7 shrimp, 1 fish. 
5 
47 
4 shrimp. 
6 
45 
10 shrimp. 
Observations on those in the tank showed that they would readily take chopped 
fish dropping through the water, but not after it had reached the bottom. They are 
exclusively pelagic, and in nature confine themselves entirely to living or moving 
food. Even such unsatisfactory creatures as sticklebacks were taken by those in 
confinement. 
RATE OF GROWTH. 
The rate of growth during the period of observation is practically uniform, the 
young doubling their length in about thirty days. The details may be gathered from 
the accompanying table which gives the rate of growth of this species and also of 
some of the constant associates in the same water: 
Date. 
Sque- 
teague. 
King-fish. 
Swell-fish. 
Scup. 
Bill-fish. 
Sea bass. 
July 12 
July 25 
Aug. 2 
Aug. 9 
Aug. 22 
Sept. 7 
mm. 
mm. 
a 32. 6 
68.2 
79 
107 
123 
mm. 
mm. 
mm. . 
mm. 
59.5 
79.5 
89.5 
117 
c 200 
29 
35.6 
45 
58 
123 
155 
b 25 
63 
67 
d 76 
Sept. 20 
Oct. 5 
e92. 5 
/180 
- 
a 1899. Based on 11 specimens ranging from 28 to 30 mm. 
6 July 24, 1899. Based on 9 specimens ranging from 23 to 26 mm. 
cOne specimen, probably much above the average; 6 in collection at Woods Hole, 
taken in Hadley Harbor Sept. 9, 1893, range from 80 to 100 mm., and average 
91 mm. in length. 
d Based on 3 specimens ranging from 73 to 82 mm. 
e Based on 4 specimens from Seekonk River, 70, 85, 95, and 120 mm. long, respectively. 
/On October 5 Mr. Edwards found young squeteague 6 to 8 inches long quite 
abundant in New Bedford River. Many were caught off the wharf with hook 
and line by fishing on the bottom. No definite measurements were recorded. 
At the rate of growth indicated here, the size of many adults (400 mm.) sent to 
the market would be reached in about seven months, but the rate of growth in length 
very probably decreases with age. Nevertheless, it seems very probable that the 
fish reaches marketable size in about a year from birth. 
The specimens collected in Narragansett Bay were much smaller than those of 
Buzzards Bay of the same date; 41.9 mm. in Narragansett Bay on August 3 and 4; 79.5 
in Buzzards Bay on August 2. If the rate of growth is uniform, the Narragansett 
specimens are eighteen days younger than the Buzzards Bay specimens. 
