FISHES OF THE GULF OF MAINE 



269 



rounded. Instead of being plain colored like the scup, the sides of the sheepshead 

 show seven broad, dark brown crossbars on a gray ground. 



Size. — The sheepshead grows to a length of 30 inches and a weight of 20 pounds. 



General range. — Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States from 

 Texas to Cape Cod. Casual in the Bay of Fundy. 



Occurrence in the Gulf of Maine. — The sheepshead was formerly abundant as far 

 north as New York and not uncommon about Woods Hole. Though still a common 

 fish in the south, it has been decidely rare east of New York for many years past. 

 The only record of it east of Cape Cod is Cox's (1896, p. 71) statement that it is 

 occasional in St. John Harbor, New Brunswick; but no actual specimens are 

 mentioned, and as it is not known ever to have strayed to Massachusetts Bay (a 

 far more likely goal for any southern coast fish than the Bay of Fundy), its claim to 

 mention here is slender. 



/ 



Cint' 





•y 



Fig. 127. — Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) 



THE CROAKERS OR WEAKFISHES. FAMILY SCLENIDiE 



The croakers have both spiny and soft portions of the dorsal fin well developed 

 (either separate or as one continuous fin) and their ventrals are thoracic in position. 

 They are readily separable from the sea basses (p. 251), the sea breams (p. 262), 

 and the cunners (p. 280) by the fact that the anal fin is much shorter than the soft 

 portion of the dorsal; from the rockfishes and sculpins by the smooth head; and from 

 all the mackerels and the pompano tribe by their stout caudal peduncles and 

 rounded or only slightly concave caudal fins. 



KEY TO GULF OF MAINE CROAKERS AND WEAKFISHES 



1. There is no barbel on the chin Weakfish, p. 270 



Chin with one or more barbels 2 



2. Several chin barbels; the spiny and soft-rayed portions of the dorsal fin are connected 



T Drum, p. 279 



Only one chin barbel. The spiny and soft-rayed portions of the dorsal are two separate 

 fins_. Kingfish, p. 277 



