Gudger — Notes on Some Beaufort, N. C, Fishes. 169 



with small eggs nearly ripe. The male lacked but - inches of being 3 

 feet long. Pressure readily brought the milky milt ami under the micro- 

 scope the sperms, which were active, were found to have a large head and 

 middle piece and a long fine tail. The abdomen in this specimen 

 measured 8 inches from the heart to the amis, of which space the enor- 

 mously developed testis tilled 7}^ inches. 



Coles reports this fish as being very plentiful at Cape Lookout in 1909 

 and 1910, but that he saw none in 1911. In 1909 he took 50 at one haul. 

 The writer recalls that on going to help fish the laboratory pound net one 

 morning 5 or li years ago, the lead was found to have a dozen or more 

 scabbard-fish meshed in it. It is far from uncommon at Beaufort in 

 .Inly and August. 



Seriola zonata (Mitchill). 



Seriola carolinensis (Holhrook). 

 RUDDER-FISH. 



Of the rudder-fish, Seriola zonata, Smith (1907) says, in reference to 

 its seeming infrequent occurrence, — "it will doubtless be found well 

 represented on the North Carolina coast when properly sought." Until 

 the present season ( 1911). the only specimen possessed by the laboratory 

 was one measuring 3.% inches long. This was taken, June IS, 1904, in a 

 trap under the laboratory wharf. The yellow bands so prominent in the 

 living or newly dead fish have become dark and greatly faded through 

 the action of the preserving fluid. 



Of the closely allied form, Seriola carolinensis, Smith writes: "This 

 species is closely related to Seriola zonata and has been regarded by recent 

 writers as a variety of that species." As to its occurrence, it has been 

 recorded from Beaufort by various authors, but Dr. Smith notes that it 

 is far from common. The laboratory records give us the information 

 that in 1902 the " Fishhawk " took one specimen, while in 1905 Capt. 

 J. 11. Potter sent a specimen to the museum. In 1910 Coles took at Cape 

 Lookout a considerable number of 5. zonata of various sizes, thus verify- 

 ing Smith's prediction. 



During the season of 1911 the laboratory pound net took several small 

 Seriola, which were identified as S % zonata, and a larger one, classified as 

 S. caroli)tensis, 10)^ inches long to the root of the caudal fin, 13 inches 

 overall, with a depth of 3 inches ( the head alone was 3 inches long). 

 The dorsal rays wereV+I + 35, the anal 1+19, while the bands were 

 very marked. On June 16 two sportsmen fell in with a school oft' the 

 Shackleford jetties and caught a score. Later in the season large numbers 

 were taken by fishermen — the writer saw at one time on the floor of Capt. 

 Potter's fish house some 300 or 400 pounds. The local name of this fish 

 is " bream." 



One of the young ones taken in the pound net was put in a large tank 

 of running salt-water, and soon became the pet of the laboratory. At 

 first the little fish, which was appropriately dubbed "Stripes," kept to 

 itself, lying close against or swimming slowly around one of the. legs of a 

 wooden aquarium stand. Later, however, it became very friendly with 



