70 



FISHES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK 



LAFAYETTE 



may be found in this vicinity any summer. The Croaker is a fish with a 

 superficial resemblance to the Weakfish but is somewhat smaller. Occa- 

 sionally it is caught here in fair numbers, when its habits are much the 

 same as those of the Weakfish with which the less intelligent fishermen 

 confuse it. Its mouth is distinctly smaller, however, the snout more 

 rounded and conspicuous, extending if anything, slightly beyond the 

 tip of the short lower jaw, and the central rays of the caudal fin are the 

 longer. Furthermore it has several small barbels on the chin. Barbels 

 are rather characteristic of this family but the Croaker is the first species 

 that we have considered which possesses them. The Kingfish has the 

 spiny back fin relatively higher and more pointed than in the other 

 species. The snout is pig-like and projecting. The lower jaw is short 

 with a single fleshy barbel, the tail fin evenly rounded, and there are 

 rather bold well marked dark bars extending downward and forward 

 across the fish's sides. The Kingfish is common on sandy ocean shores 

 and is frequently taken by casting through the surf, as is the larger 

 Striped Bass. It averages two or three pounds in weight, grown fish 

 being from one to six pounds. The last of the family, the Drum, has a 

 large strong spine preceding the pointed anal fin, and broad black bands 

 across the body suggestive of the Sheepshead, whereas numerous thread- 

 like barbels hang from its chin, which are much longer and more con- 

 spicuous than those of the Croaker. Its tail fin is square, and, especially 

 in large fish, which lose the black bands more or less, the form is chunky. 



