THE SCUPPAUG AND THE FAIR MAID. 



93 



Tautog, chogset, squeteague, mummichog, mattawacca, menhaden, 

 siscowet, tullibee, quinnat, oulachan, oquassa and namaycush are among 

 the best of them ; their number is few, and they need careful guardianship. 



Until very recently only one species of the genus Stenotomus was known 

 to occur in our waters. Dr. Bean has, however, shown that there are two 

 on the Atlantic coast of the United States, in addition to the unimportant 

 species, S. caprinus, recently described from the Gulf of Mexico. 



The " Scup " of the North, Stenotomus chrysops, is by far the most im- 

 portant, though the Southern species, S. aculcatus, has considerable com- 

 mercial value. The former, which is distinguished by its larger teeth 

 and more abrupt profile, is abundant between Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras • 

 the latter has its metropolis en the Carolina coast, but has been found 

 sparingly as far north as Wood's Holl, Mass. 





THE FAIR MAID. STENOTOMUS ACUXEATCS. 



On the Virginia coast the Southern Scup is known as the "Fair Maid." 

 The name " Porgy " is in use about Charleston, S. C, but is not dis- 

 tinctive, being applied to several allied forms. Their range is much more 

 limited to the south and extends farther to the north than that of the 

 Sheepshead. Holbrook wrote in i860: " The Porgy is found along our 

 coasts at all seasons of the year, though most abundant in June and July." 

 He further states that its southern limit on the Atlantic border is Cape 

 Florida, a statement probably not susceptible of proof. 



