FLOUNDERS OF GENUS PARALICHTHYS AND RELATED GENERA 



331 



in Floridii (Goodel8S4) and frnm Koaiioke River 

 in North Curoliiia (Smith IHiV.) and 1907). Speci- 

 mens from Edenton aiid from Avoca, on Cliowan 

 River, N. C, were examined by me. I was told 

 by fishermen tliat it is taken by spears along the 

 banks of the Mississippi for considerable distances 

 above the mouth. 



Size. — This is the largest flounder on the coast 

 of the Southern States. Fish brought to the 

 market by giggers are usually between 12 and 20 

 inches. The largest examined is an individual 26 

 inches (660 mm.), including the caudal fin, from 

 Beaufort, N. C. Jordan and Gilbert (1883, p. 617) 

 report a maximum length of 30 inches at Charles- 

 ton. S. C. However, in view of the paucity of 

 records, it is quite possible that the species attains 

 a considerably larger size. 



Dixtinrfhw characters and rclafionxhiiK — On 

 the Gulf coast and the east coast of Florida where 

 albiguita is common, this species may be readily 

 distingtiished. as a rule, by its distinctive color, 

 all of the spots being ditfuse, none especially prom- 

 inent and not definitely ocellated. Doubtful speci- 

 mens are separable by the combination of higher 

 fin ray and scale counts (tables 1, 5, and 6). In 

 the northern part of its range. North Carolina to 

 northern Florida, where dentatus also occurs, 

 lethosfigma. may be distinguished from that spe- 

 cies by the lack of ocellated spots, and more espe- 

 cially by the fewer gill rakers there being no inter- 

 grading individuals with respect to this character, 

 as between these two species. A count of the gill 

 rakers on the first arch will positively distinguish 

 lethostigma and dentatus in every case (tables 2 

 to 4). From the deep water squrnnilentxijs, this 

 species may be distinguished by the depth of the 

 body aided by the fewer gill rakers and other 

 characters (p. 334). P. Jcthostigma also has a 

 wider interorbital than the other three species, 

 except in the small specimens. 



Neotype. — .Jordan and Gilbert in 1883 gave a 

 recognizable description of this species under the 

 name of P. dentatus; but the given synonymy and 

 distribution do not api)ly altogether to it. Later, 

 in 1885, they establish the name lethostigma based 

 solely on their account of 1SS3. Since that ac- 

 count is based on more than one species it is neces- 

 sai-y to fix definitely the status of lethostigma by 

 the selection of a type. Jordan and Gilbert's ac- 

 count of 1883 does not contain any statements by 



which any of the specimens forming the basis 

 of their description may be identified now. In 

 tlieir synonymy they cite Goode and Bean 1879, 

 and the latter authors give museum numbers of 

 the specimens examined by them. One of those 

 specimens, 21279, from Indian River, Fla.. 292 

 mm., is herewith designated as a neotype. 



Biology. — No special study was ever made of 

 this species and consequently very little is known 

 regarding its habits and life histoi'y. Spawning 

 probably takes place in late fall and early winter 

 and the spawning season is possibly extended. 

 John C. Pearson, in connection with his studies 

 of the life history of the sciaenids on the coast of 

 Texas obtained some young of this species as fol- 

 lows: In 1926, March 31, Corpus Christi Pass, 1 

 specimen 53 mm. In 1927, January 25, Harbor I., 

 3 specimens, 23, 24, and 31 mm. ; February 15, ]Mud 

 I., 4 specimens, 27, 28, 31 and 47 mm.; Feb. 23, 

 Laguna Madre, 5 specimens 33, 36, 59, 62 and 65 

 mm.; March 11. Lagvnia Madre, 2 specimens 77 

 and 89 mm.; March 30, Corjjus Christi Pass, 3 

 specimens, 89, 111, and 114 mm. These few in- 

 dividuals perhaps indicate that the spawning sea- 

 son is in late fall, and they show a fairly rapid 

 growth to the end of March. 



Fisheiy and economic importance. — A compara- 

 tively important fishery for this species exists on 

 the coast of the Southern States from North Caro- 

 lina to Texas. The most important method in 

 commercial fishing is by means of sjiears, the 

 operation being known as "gigging," "tlounder- 

 lighting" or "floundering." The fishermen's outfit 

 is simple. Besides the spear or "gig," it consists 

 of a flat-bottomed skiif having an iron rod at- 

 tached to the stern in a nearly but not quite up- 

 right position and a wire basket suspended from 

 the upper end of the rod. A flaring fire is lit in 

 the basket by burning pine-knots, called "fat- 

 wood." The skiff is poled along in the shallows, 

 and as the bright flame divulges the position of a 

 flounder it is speared. Fisiiing may be carried 

 out by two men, one poling and the other spearing 

 the fish; but often one man does all the work. 

 Gigging is usually done on dark, calm nights, at 

 the incoming tide with which the fish come into 

 shallow water. On bright mooidight nights or 

 when a wind is blowing, gigging is said not to 

 yield very satisfactory results. 



