FISHERIES OF KEY WEST. 29 



66. Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier and Valenciennes). Spotted trout; 



Speckled trout; Spotted squeteague. 



This important food fish is rarely, if ever, taken within the im- 

 mediate vicinity of Key West. It is a valuable and abundant species 

 on both coasts of Florida, however. Small numbers are taken among 

 the Florida keys, near Cape Sable, while fishing for mullet, and it 

 is seen in the Key West markets in company with this species. 

 Various methods are used in catching the spotted squeteague. In 

 lower Chesapeake Bay, where it is an important food fish, it is 

 caught in pound nets, haul seines, and set seines; in southern Flor- 

 ida it is taken in mullet nets and with hook and line. Among the 

 Ten Thousand Islands a fisherman was observed fishing from a 

 flatboat with hook and line attached to a long bamboo pole. He 

 drifted over grassy flats, repeatedly casting with mullet bait, and 

 succeeded in catching many squeteagues. In St. Andrews Bay, 

 Fla., the writer caught many " speckled trout " while trolling from 

 a boat and using artificial lures. The largest fish recorded weighed 

 16£ pounds and was taken in the Neuse River, N. C. Two 16-pound 

 fish were observed in Chesapeake Bay during 1922. The average 

 weight is about 2 pounds. 



Range. — New York to Texas; rare north of Chesapeake Bay. 



67. Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus). Redfish; Channel bass; Red drum. 



This species, called " redfish " in the South, is not caught in the 

 immediate vicinity of Key West, but it is occasionally taken among 

 some of the Florida keys, and at times small numbers are seen in 

 the local markets. On both coasts of Florida it is a food fish of 

 considerable value. In traveling from one coast to the other it 

 appears evident that the channel bass rounds Cape Sable and does 

 not stray very far south among the keys. It is a good game fish, 

 and large individuals are caught by surf-casters along the New 

 Jersey coast and elsewhere. Maximum weight, 75 pounds; average, 

 2 to 35 pounds. 



Range. — Massachusetts to Texas; not common north of Chesa- 

 peake Bay. 



68. Pagonias cromis (Linnaeus). Black drum. 



The black drum is not caught in the immediate vicinity of Key 

 West but, like the red drum, is occasionally taken among the keys. 

 It is seldom seen in the local markets. As a food fish it is rather 

 inferior, the flesh being coarse and stringy. Maximum weight, 146 

 pounds; average, about 25 pounds. 



Range. — Massachusetts to Texas. 



69. Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum). Hogfish; Capitan. 



The hogfish is common about Key West and is caught the year 

 round on rocky reefs in rather deep water. It is a fairly good food 

 fish, though not choice, and is always present in the fish wells and 

 live cars. When the fish is dressed, the scales are shaved off with a 

 sharp knife in the same manner as with groupers and jewfish. Maxi- 

 mum weight, 20 pounds. Fish weighing 10 pounds or more are not 



