418 



FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



Figure 217. — Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis). A, adult; from Goode, drawing by H. L. Todd. B, egg; C, larva, 12.4 

 mm.; D, fry, 32 mm. B and D, from Welsh and Breder; C, after Tracy. 



423), the absence of barbels on the chin separates 

 it from a drum (p. 425) ; it has nothing in common 

 with such bizarre fishes as the John Dory (p. 297), 

 triggerfish (p. 520) or any member of the sculpin 

 tribe. 



The weakfish is a slim, shapely fish, about four 

 times as long as deep (to the base of the caudal 

 fin), only slightly flattened sidewise, with rather 

 stout caudal peduncle; a head about one- third 

 as long as body, moderately pointed snout, and 

 large mouth. Its upper jaw is armed with two 

 large canine teeth and its lower jaw projects 

 beyond the upper. The first dorsal fin (10 spines), 

 originating a little behind the pectorals, is trian- 

 gular; the second dorsal (26 to 29 rays), originat- 

 ing close behind the first, is more than twice as 

 long as the first and roughly rectangular. The 

 caudal fin is moderately broad and only slightly 

 concave in outline. The anal fin (2 very slender 

 spines and 11 or 12 rays) is less than half as long 

 as the second dorsal, under the rear part of which 

 it stands. The ventrals are below the pectorals, 

 which they resemble in their moderate size and 

 pointed outline. 



Color. — Dark olive green above with the back 

 and sides variously burnished with purple, lav- 

 ender, green, blue, golden, or coppery, and marked 

 with a large number of small black, dark green, 

 or bronze spots, vaguely outlined and running 

 together more or less, especially on the back; 

 thus forming irregular lines that run downward 

 and forward. The spots are most numerous above 

 the lateral line, and there are none on the lower 

 part of the sides or on the belly. The lower sur- 

 face, forward to the tip of the jaw, is white, either 

 chalky or silvery. The dorsal fins are dusky, 

 usually more or less tinged with yellow; the caudal 

 is olive or dusky with its lower edge yellowish at 

 the base; the ventrals and the anal are yellow; and 

 the pectorals are olive on the outer side, but 

 usually yellow on the inner side. 



Size. — It is said that weakfish have been taken 

 as heavy as 30 pounds, but the largest of which we 

 can find authentic record in recent years was one 

 of 17 pounds 8 ounces, taken on the New Jersey 

 coast, on rod and reel, by A. Weisbecker, Jr., 

 September 30, 1944. And a fish heavier than 12 



