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THE EDIBLE FINFISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



BY Eugene W. Roelofs 



Institute of Fisheries Research, University of North Carolina 



ALEWIVES 



Pomolobus species 



The alewife fisheries along the Atlantic coast are supported by two species: 

 the "true" alewife, "branch herring," or "goggle-eye" {Pomolobus pseudo- 

 harengus), and the "blueback," "glut herring," or "school herring" {P. 

 aestivalis). These two species have overlapping ranges, the former being 

 taken from Nova Scotia to the Carolinas, and the latter also from the Bay of 

 Fundy, but mainly from Chesapeake Bay to Florida. The North Carolina 

 fishery therefore includes both species, but the school herring is the more 

 important. Although the fishermen recognize the different species (the goggle- 

 eye is known as the forerunner of the shad) no distinction is made in the 

 commercial catch. 



The principal Atlantic coast alewife fisheries are found in Chesapeake Bay 

 and North Carolina's Albemarle Sound region. Smaller fisheries exist in New 

 England and Florida. Only a small portion of the fish harvested are eaten 

 fresh, the bulk being salted or otherwise cured. Some of the roe is canned. 

 By-products from the fishery include scrap for fertilizer, oil, and pearl 

 essence from the scales. 



Nearly all the alewives caught in the State are taken from the Albemarle 



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