118 
AMERICAN FISHES. 
flood tide. They are found in the winter as far south as St. Augustine, 
and possibly below this point, although we have no positive assurance of 
this fact. 
At present they are thought to be more abundant than any other fish on 
the Carolina coast, with the exception of the mullet, having increased in 
numbers largely (at least twofold) within the last fifteen years, possibly 
in consequence of the intermission of capture during the war. The 
average length is about eighteen inches, with a weight of two pounds, 
although they are not unfrequently found three feet in length and ten 
pounds’ weight. They are often found outside of the beach in great 
numbers in January, coming in to the shore when the water is warm, 
about February, as stated. School follows school at intervals of about 
four or five days, when they seem to go northward and to be absent from 
the Southern coast for several months. On their return in September, 
after a short stay, they gradually leave the coast until they finally disappear 
for the season. Their return season by season is very regular and definite, 
being relied upon with much confidence. The successive “runs” do not 
seem to be classified in any particular way, large and small fish of both 
sexes coming in together. The colder the weather the less tendency they 
appear to exhibit to come towards the shore. 
At their first appearance in the spring the spawn is not appreciable, nor, 
according to Dr. Yarrow, do they have any development of the ovaries 
during their stay on that coast; and he is under the impression that they 
breed during their autumnal and winter stay farther south. This, how¬ 
ever, is scarcely probable, it being more likely that their spawning ground 
is more to the north, perhaps off the coast of Virginia. 
Their presence is generally made known by the schools of porpoises 
which follow and feed upon them. Swimming low in the water, they 
make no ripple on the surface, as is the case with mullets. The time of 
their capture is usually on the young flood, as in their movements along 
the shore they come in on the rising tide and depart on the ebb. 
Like their representatives in the north, these fishes are fond of penetrat¬ 
ing, for a short distance at least, into the mouths of rivers, remaining, 
however, only about a week; this, according to Dr. Yarrow, is their 
habit on the coast of North Carolina, before leaving for the North. 
A singular phenomenon illustrating the delicate organization of this 
and the related species, is described by Mr. N. E. Armstrong, of On- 
