Fishery bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife Service - NOAA

STUDIES ON THE STRIPED BASS OF THE ATLANTIC COAST 65
in the winter often become dormant and inactive. The evidence is strong that the
maximum tolerance limit for the species is 25°-26° C., which is about as high a temperature
as coastal waters ever reach in the North and Middle Atlantic. Coastal migra'
tions are not undertaken by bass less than 2 years old. Tagging experiments conducted
in North Carolina in the springs of 1937 and 1938 tend to show that bass from this
region contribute directly only a small percentage to the population summering in
northern waters.
(9) The available evidence from general observation and scale analysis points
to the conclusion that the dominant 1934 year-class originated chiefly in the latitude
of Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, and confirms the results of the tagging experiments
in North Carolina in the springs of 1937 and 1938 mentioned above.
(10) Stomach-content analyses on over 550 striped bass from northern waters,
and on over 100 individuals from the south, show that bass are general in their choice
of food—a large variety of fishes and crustácea forming the most common diet.
(11) Various nematodes and copepods have been found parasitic on the striped
bass, and a number of trematodes, cestodes, and acanthocephalans have also been
listed by other authors. Glochidia were found on small juveniles from the western
end of Albemarle Sound. Several of the parasites listed constitute new host records.
None of these parasites are of any great consequence to the general well-being of the
striped bass population. A high percentage of bass in the Thames River, Conn.,
were found to have bilateral cataract. It is suggested that this is the result of a dietary
deficiency.
(12) The decline in abundance of the striped bass of the Atlantic coast over longterm
periods and its causes are discussed, and it is pointed out that the present practice
of taking such a large proportion of the 2-year-olds annually is apparently not an
efficient utilization of the supply, and that both the fishery and the stock should
benefit by protecting this species until it is 3 years old, at which time it is approximately
41 cm. (16 inches) long to the fork of the tail and weighs \% to 2 pounds. The
adoption of such experimental measures designed to protect striped bass up to the
time they become 3 years old should result in a greater profit for the commercial
fishermen, an increased supply of larger fish for the sportsmen, and an added number
of individuals that reach maturity, some of which may possibly spawn in northern
waters and thus replenish the stocks in these areas where in many instances the
populations have been exhausted. The need for further studies on the striped bass is
emphasized in order that the results of the recommendation, if adopted, may be
traced, so that suitable revision of the size limit may be made if the results indicate
that modifications would be desirable, and in order to amplify the results of the present
investigation.
TABLE 3.—Record of striped basa taken by members of Cuttyhunk Club, Cuttyhunk, Mass., 1865-1907
I860
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1870
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
NOTE.—See fig. 3.
Year
277089—Í1-
Number
offish
1.174
659
906
942
887
616
804
£81
692
EDO
724
835
321
648
498
403
184
200
164
124
468
Average
weight
6.76
6.25
6.76
6.60
7.25
8.60
8
6. 7fi
8.25
9.25
7
10.25
8.25
9.76
9 9.25
10.25
8.25
9
9
22
Largest
flab
28
24.60
65
67
48
47
42
39
37
55
50.25
51
51.60
51
49
60.25
44
64
31.76
43
29.50
27.25
1887
Д888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897.
1898
1899
1900
1001
1902
1903-.._
1804
1905
1906
1907
Year
Number
offish
235
29 4
164
43
18
39
80
21
25
59
45
21
14
13245715
Average
weight
12
16.50
22.60
14
11.75
16.50
16.25
g
17.25
14.25
11.26
9
13
18
14
17
10.75
15
16 9.25
19
Largest
fish
42
66
41
41.60
24.25
38 50
35.50
35 25
36 75
27
33 60
23 76
35
54
29
26
16.75
35
40 9.26
23 50