270 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



103. Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis Bloch and Schneider) 

 Squeteague; Sea trout; Trout; Gray trout 



Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 1407 



Description. — The relative sizes and shapes of the fins of the weakfish and its 

 color are such ready field marks that it is one of our most easily named fishes. 

 With regard to other Gulf of Maine fishes with separate spiny and soft-rayed dorsal 

 fins, it is distinguishable from the mullet by the considerable length of its dorsal as 

 well as by many other characters. Its only slightly emarginate tail distinguishes it 

 from any mackerel or pompano. This same character, combined with a short anal 

 fin and a first dorsal fin higher than the second gives it an appearance quite different 

 from a bluefish, while the fact that its second dorsal is much longer than the first 

 and its body slender obviates all danger of confusing it with striped bass or white 

 perch. The shape of the dorsal and caudal fins and of the head make it distin- 

 guishable at a glance from the kingfish (p. 277), the absence of barbels on the chin 

 separates it from a drum, while it has nothing in common with such bizarre fish as 

 the John Dory (p. 291), triggerfish (p. 293), or the sculpin tribe (p. 314). 



The weakfish is a slim, shapely fish, about four and one-fourth times as long as 

 deep (counting the caudal), only slightly compressed, with rather stout caudal 

 peduncle, long head, 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 (9 to 10 spines), originating slightly behind the pectoral, is triangular: 

 the second, originating close behind it, is more than twice as long (26 to 29 rays) 

 and roughly rectangular. The caudal fin is moderately broad and but slightly 

 concave in outline. The anal fin (1 or 2 very slender spines and 11 to 13 rays) is 

 less than half as long as the second dorsal, under the rear of which it stands. 

 The ventrals are below the pectorals, which they resemble in their moderate size 

 and pointed outline. 



Color. 2 " — Dull brownish or olive green above with the back and sides variously 

 burnished with purple, lavender, green, blue, golden, or coppery, and marked with 

 a large number of small black, dark green, or bronze spots. These spots are vaguely 

 outlined and run together more or less, especially on the back, thus forming irregular 

 lines running downward and forward. They are most numerous above the lateral 

 line. There are no spots on the lower sides or belly. The lower surface, 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 anal are yellow, and the pectorals are 

 olive outside and usually yellow inside. 



Size. — It is said that weakfish as heavy as 30 pounds have been taken, but the 

 largest of which we can find authentic record in recent years was an lS-pounder. A 

 fish heavier than 12 pounds or longer than 3 feet is a rarity. Off southern Massa- 

 chusetts the largest fish run 6 to 10 pounds in weight, and most of those taken there 



" W. C. Schroeder, ot the Bureau of Fisheries, has supplied notes on the color of a freshly caught specimen 17 inches long. 



