192 



FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



TRACHINOTUS SPP. OF SOUTH ATLANTIC 

 COAST 



TRACHINOTUS CAROLJNUS (LINNAEUS) 



Trachinotus carolinus, (figs. 4-7), the common 

 pompano, is apparently the most abundant species 

 of the genus Trachinotus on the southeastern coast 

 of the United States. Meek and Goss (1885: 

 p. 128) stated that "On our South Atlantic and 

 Gulf Coasts this is by far the most abundant 

 species of the genus." Neither Beebe and Tee- 

 Van (1933) nor Bean (1906) included T. carolinus 

 among the Bermuda fishes, nor did Rosen (1911) 

 list it for the Bahamas. Nichols (1929: p. 242) 

 stated that the young are plentiful in Porto Rican 

 waters, but grown fish are rare. 



The species affords an important fishery along 

 the south Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United 

 States, with Florida the leading producer. From 



1955 through 1958 the total Florida catch was 

 2,425,247 pounds, valued at $1,748,993 (Anderson 

 and Power, 1957; Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, 

 1959; Power, 1958 and 1959). 

 Spawning 



There has been considerable speculation on the 

 life history of T. carolinus, especially as to time 

 and place of spawning. Goode (1882: p. 39) 

 quoted Stearns, "In regard to its spawning habits 

 nothing very definite has been learned. It has 

 spawn half developed when it arrives and has 

 none when it leaves the bays." 



Goode also said (p. 38) — 



Mr. S. C. Clarke states that in the Indian River they 

 spawn in March in the open sea, near New Smyrna, Fla. 

 It is supposed that those visiting our northern coasts 

 breed at a distance from the shore. 



Tracy (1910: p. 113) stated his belief that T. 

 carolinus "probably spawn on east coast of 



Figure 4. — T. carolinus, 7.2 mm. {Gill cruise 3, regular station 42). 



Figure 5. — T. carolinus, 11.0 mm. (Gill cruise 8, regular station 47). 



