10 



20 30 



STANDARD LENGTH IN MM. 



40 



Figure 45. — Caranx ruber: Relation of the length of the preopercular-angle spine to standard length. 



Lookout, N. C; on the 100-fathom line off Cape 

 Hatteras, N. C; and east of the axis of the Gulf 

 Stream off Cape Canaveral, Fla.), and a ChM 

 specimen examined (Charleston, S. C.) (tables 2 

 and 10). The locations of capture recorded on 

 this chart are for juvenile specimens. These juve- 

 niles were generally captured beyond the 100- 

 fathom line and an association with the Gulf 

 Stream (as depicted by the approximate axis of 

 the Stream in figure 46) is indicated. Collections 

 by the Gill were relatively less concentrated to 

 the east of the Stream axis, and the occurrence of 

 ruber is not as well depicted for this area, but the 

 several deeper-water records indicate that the 

 species is common there. Young ruber occur in 

 the Gulf Stream from late April to November and 

 are in greatest concentration from May through 

 August (fig. 47). 



The only published records of ruber that I have 

 found from inshore waters of the United States are 

 for Texas (Baughman 1947: 280); Tortugas, Fla. 

 (Gudger 1929: 169; Longley and Hildebrand, 1941 : 

 77; and Ginsburg 19.52: 91); Charleston, S. C. 

 (Fowler 1945: 189; Nichols 1939: 1); and Beaufort 

 and Cape Lookout, N. C. (Smith 1907: 204; 



Nichols 1912: 185, 1935: 268). I have examined 

 the Charleston, S. C, specimen reported by 

 Fowler, and USNM specimens from Tortugas, Fla., 

 and near Cape Hatteras, N. C. The USNM speci- 

 men, taken near Cape Hatteras, is the most north- 

 ern inshore record for the species. The most- 

 northern record is from 39°13' N., 71°13' W., in 

 the Gulf Stream south of Georges Bank (Mather 

 1954: 293). This compilation indicates that ruber 

 is rare in inshore waters. The North Carolina and 

 South Carolina records are of specimens below 70 

 mm., which could have been drifted inshore by 

 temporary currents. 



The Gill collections indicate that juvenile forms 

 of ruber are both widespread and abundant in the 

 offshore waters of this area, primarily in associa- 

 tion with the Gulf Stream and the merging Antilles 

 Current. I believe that these developing young 

 are carried northward by the currents. Absence of 

 inshore records of the species north of North Caro- 

 lina indicates that the Stream-grown juveniles and 

 adults do not migrate in this direction, and ab- 

 sence of records from the Azores and waters farther 

 east suggests that they discontinue their move- 

 ment with the Stream to the east. It is possible 



