128 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



periods are found in the literature (Lawson, 1709, cited by Smith, 1907; 

 and Goode, 1884, Sec. I, Text). It seems, therefore, that long-term fluctua- 

 tions in distribution take place in at least certain localities. 



Production of spotted trout in North Carolina amounts to about a million 

 pounds annually. There have been high and low years, but there has been 

 no significant trend in the fishery since 1925. 



SPOT 



Leiostomus xanthurus (Lacepede) 



The spot, which derives its name from the round spot on its shoulder, is 

 found from Massachusetts to Texas. North Carolina, Virginia, and New Jer- 

 sey are the largest spot-producing states. The spot is not so large a fish as 

 are many other commercial species, but it is highly regarded as a food fish. 

 It is of much more importance in North Carolina than it was fifty to sixty 

 years ago. In fact, Smith (1907) states that there was no special fishery for 

 spot, but that they were taken incidentally in seines, gill nets, and pound 

 nets. Before 1900, the annual North Carolina production was less than a 

 half a million pounds, but since the middle 1930's the annual catch has been 

 in the neighborhood of five million pounds. The spot now supports a special 

 fishery, particularly in October and November, when other fish are scarce. 



The life history of the spot has been studied by Hildebrand and Schroeder 

 (1928) and Hildebrand and Cable (1930). However, some phases of the 

 life history are still unknown, or are known only on the basis of circumstan- 

 tial evidence. 



The spawning and development of the eggs have not been observed. It is 

 known, however, that adult fish leave the sounds in the fall (October and 

 November) and that the females carry eggs presumably ready for dis- 

 charge. Larval fish (under one-half inch in length) have been collected in 

 shallow waters along the coast from November to May. It is evident, there- 

 fore, that the fish spawn offshore, and, judging by abundance of larvae, it is 

 believed that the principal spawning period is during December and Janu- 

 ary, with some spawning in November and February. 



The rate of growth and average size of the spot vary throughout its range. 

 Pearson (1929) states that spot are not taken commercially in Texas because 

 they do not attain sufficiently large size, seldom reaching ten inches. Hilde- 

 brand and Cable (1930) report that the average size of the spot taken com- 

 mercially in the Beaufort, North Carolina, region is somewhat smaller than 

 at Norfolk, Virginia. Croakers and weakfish (trout) also reach a larger size 

 in the northern part of their range. At Beaufort, the young fish grow rapidly 

 during the summer, reaching a length of four to five inches by fall. At the age 

 of one year they have reached five to seven and one-half inches, the larger 



