THE FOOD AND GAME FISHES OF NEW YORK. 433 



used to be common in Great South Bay, but in 1884 they were rare, according to 

 Mr. Erastus Gordon, of Patchogue. In 1898 only one adult was taken by the 

 writer, and that was found in Clam Pond Cove, August 26. Young were seined at 

 Fire Island Inlet, Nichols's Point, Howell's Point, Blue Point Cove, and in Peconic 

 Bay. In 1901 large King fish were not uncommon in Great South Bay, but the 

 young were unusually rare, only two specimens, measuring from 3^ to 4 inches, 

 having been obtained ; these were seined at Duncan's Creek September 14. 



The King fish was formerly abundant in Gravesend Bay, but it seldom occurs 

 there now. 



The species evidently breeds at Woods Hole, Mass. Dr. Smith says that adults 

 full of spawn are common there in June, and uncommon after July 15. The young, 

 about an inch long, appear in the middle of July, and the young are numerous on 

 sandy beaches during the summer and until early October, when they leave, having 

 attained a length of 4 or 5 inches. Some of the young are almost entirely black, 

 while others of the same size, taken at the same time, show the color markings of 

 the adults. The maximum weight there is about 2 pounds. 



The species is a favorite in New York waters and well merits its reputation as a 

 choice food fish. It takes the baited hook very readily. Hard clam, cut small, 

 shedder crab, black mussels and various kinds of fish are good baits. It goes in 

 schools and associates with the Weak fish. 



128. Drum (Pogonias cromis Linnaeus). 



Pogonias fasciatus DEKAY, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 81, pi. 14, fig. 40, 1842. 



Mugil grunniens MITCHILL, Rept. Fish. N. Y., 16, 1814, New York. 



Mugil giga s MITCHILL, Rept. Fish. N. Y., 16, 1814, New York. 



Labrus grunniens MITCHILL, Trans. I, it. & Phil. Soc. N. Y., I, 105, 1815. 



Sciena fusca MITCHILL, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y., I, 409, 1815, New York. 



Pogonias chromis DEKAY, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 80, 1842. 



Pogonias chromis JORDAN & GILBERT, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus., 568, 1883. 



Pogonias chromis BEAN, ipth Rept. Comm. Fish. N. Y., 261, pi. XIII, fig. 17, 1890. 



Color grayish silvery, with five dark broad bars, three of which extend upon the 

 dorsal fins, these bars disappearing with age ; usually no oblique dark streaks along 

 rows of scales above ; fins dusky. 



Dr. Mitchill describes the Drum under the names Black. Drum and Red Drum. 

 The Black Drum which he described weighed 34 pounds. He had a specimen of 80 

 pounds, and states that he was credibly informed of one that weighed 101 pounds. 

 The species, according to Dr. Mitchill was taken abundantly during the summer 



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