172 Gudgei — Notes on Some Beaufort, N. C, Fishes. 



of tail 17^ inches, and in depth (body only) 6J4 inches. Tin fortunately 

 the writer had no means at hand for weighing this, the largest sheepshead 

 he has ever seen. 



Diplodus holbrookii (Bean). 



SP< ITTKD-TAILED PIN-FISH. 



Jordan and Gilbert reported this fish as very abundant in Beaufort 

 waters in 1879, but not until the writer had hauled for several summers 

 on the edges of the shoals with a small-meshed seine did he take any, and 

 when caught they were thought to be new to Beaufort. During the sum- 

 mer of 1!)11 large schools of young were seen playing around the jetties 

 on the inside of Shackleford Hanks. In the clear water the spot at the 

 bases of their caudal fins could be easily seen. 



During various years since 1900, but always in .luly, Coles has taken the 

 adult fish in great numbers at the " Rocks," about 2 miles out from New 

 River Inlet. These were 12-13 inches in length and averaged about \% 

 pounds in weight. He has often taken the young but never any adults 

 at Cape Lookout. From this it would seem that New River Inlet is about 

 the northern limit of adults. 



Cynoscion regalis (Bloch and Schneider). 

 GRAY TROUT. 



The largest gray trout, which the writer took during the summer of 



1910 measured ISj^ inches in length and weighed a lull two pounds. 

 However, toward the close of July, some menhaden fishermen made a 

 catch of "fatbacks" near the railroad bridge at Beaufort, and got a 

 number of trout running in weight from 2}4 to 7 pounds. These of course 

 were "outside"' fish which had come in with the menhaden to feed on 

 them. 



According to Smith (1907), the average weight for this fish is about 2 

 pounds, though they frequently run 5 to l> pounds, occasionally to twice 

 as much, while the maximum recorded is 40 pounds. 



Micropogon undulatus (Linnaeus). 

 CROAKER. 



In all bis seining around Beaufort the writer has never caught so many 

 croakers, and these of such large size, as during 1910. In one haul at the 

 Narrows, nearly a boat load of fish ranging from it-12 inches were caught. 

 Even the experienced fishermen expressed their surprise at both their 

 size and abundance. The largest taken during this season were 14% and 

 153^ inches long. The latter weighed \}. 2 pounds. The largest taken in 



1911 measured \'2% and L3 inches respectively. 



Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus). 



RED DRUM. 



During the summer of 1911 the writer collected 3 young red drum which 

 were among the most beautiful fish he has ever seen at Beaufort. The 

 first, taken June 23, in West Bay of Marker's Island opening on the 



