i 3 4 ■ AMERICAN FISHES. 



November. It is not much esteemed as food, and is only used as a pan- 

 fish. 



It is abundant and highly esteemed at Brunswick, Ga., and everywhere 

 in Eastern Florida, in company with the Spot, ascending the St. John's as 

 far as Jacksonville. 



Stearns writes: " In the Gulf of Mexico it is very common. Is found 

 everywhere in the bays and bayous throughout the year. Lives mostly in 

 shoal water or grassy bottoms. Feeds upon crustaceous animals. Breeds 

 in the bays in November and December. The young are seen in the 

 spring, having grown to a size of two or three inches in length. Is caught 

 with hook and line and seine. It sells with other pan-fish for a low price. 

 It is an excellent food-fish ; average length ten inches. At Sarasota Bay. 

 December 8, 1879, 1 caught two specimens of spawning croakers that were 

 each fully eighteen inches long — the largest that I have ever seen." 



An allied species is Larimus fasciatus, which is called "Chub" in 

 Charleston. 



Prof. Jordan supplies the following notes upon allied species native to 

 the Pacific waters : 



Corvina saturna, is known wherever found as the " Red Roncador," less 

 commonly as " Black Roncador" or " Croaker." It reaches a length of 

 sixteen inches and a weight of three or four pounds. It is found from 

 Point Conception southward in moderate abundance. It feeds largely on 

 crustaceans and spawns in July. It is a food-fish of good quality. 



Roncador Stearnsi, is generally known as the "Roncador" or the 

 snorer, from the Spanish roncar, to snore. It makes a very distinct grunt- 

 ing noise, probably with its air-bladder, on being taken from the water. 

 It reaches a length of over two feet, and a weight of six to eight pounds. 

 It is found from Santa Barbara southward, usually in abundance. It feeds 

 on Crustacea and spawns in July. It is a food-fish of excellent quality. It 

 is named in honor of that eminent naturalist, Prof. R. E. C. Stearns, so 

 long identified with the scientific interests of the Pacific coast. 



Genyonemus lineatus, is known about San Francisco as the Little Bass. 

 Southward it is called the Little Roncador. The name " Cognard," said 

 by Dr. Ayers to be given to it in San Francisco, is unknown to us. It 

 reaches a weight of little over a pound, and a length of a foot ; it is found 

 from Tomales to San Diego, being most abundant from Santa Barbara to 

 San Francisco. It often comes into the markets in large numbers; it 



