THE SCUPPAUG AND THE EAIR MAID. 
95 
western shore and move np along its edge. They are said, however, to 
drift slowly backward and forward with the tide, especially at the entrance 
of this bay. At this time they are very sluggish, and are said sometimes 
to appear as if blind, and can frequently be taken with the hand, or a 
very short scoop-net. 
“According to Capt. Edwards, of Wood’s Holl, in proceeding to their 
breeding-grounds, on the coast of New England, they are taken at Mon- 
tauk Point three weeks earlier than at Wood’s Holl, and a week earlier at 
Wood’s Holl than at Hyannis, still farther east. 
“ The Scup feed upon a great variety of marine animals, such as worms, 
small crustaceans, mollusks, &c., and take the hook very freely during the 
greater part of their stay; in fact, the smaller ones become veritable 
nuisances to the fishermen, from the readiness with which they pounce 
upon the baited hook whenever thrown overboard. 
“The flesh of the Scup is very much prized by most persons, as it is 
firm and flaky, and usually sweet, although occasionally a bitter flavor 
detracts from its palatability. Since the settlement of the coast by the 
whites, it has been by far the most important food-fish of Fisher’s Island 
and Vineyard Sound, Narragansett Bay and of Buzzard’s Bay ; and the 
rapid diminution in number has caused the greatest solicitude. 
“ Of their abundance on the south coast of New England in former 
times, almost incredible accounts are given. They swarmed to such a 
degree that their capture ceased to be a matter of sport. The line when 
thrown overboard could be immediately withdrawn with the assurance of 
having a fish on each one of two hooks. Any number of fishermen from 
boats could take five hundred to one thousand pounds a day without the 
slightest difficulty, the limits of the catch being simply the ability to find 
a sale. 
“ In flavor the flesh of this fish is surpassed by very few others on the 
coast, although its superabundance caused it to be undervalued. The 
period of greatest development in number of this fish coincided with that 
of the absence of the bluefish, and since the return of the latter to the 
coast of New England the Scup has become scarce, although still a very 
important object of pursuit. 
“ The Scup is a fish that grows with rapidity, and at two years is almost 
of sufficient size to be marketable. Throughout the summer young fish of 
the spring spawning are to be seen floating around in the eel-grass and 
over the sandy bottoms, having attained a length of from two and a half 
to three and a quarter inches by the ist of October. When these fish 
reappear the next season, thus completing one year of existence, they 
measure about six inches, six to eight or nine weighing a pound ; and by 
the ist of September attain an average length of eight inches, including 
the tail, and a breadth of three inches. In the third year of existence, or 
at the age of two years, they have increased considerably, though not so 
rapidly as was once supposed, measuring, on their reappearance, about 
