132 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



most common name used in North Carolina.^ They are found from Ches- 

 apeake Bay to Texas. They are bottom feeders; their chief food are mollusks 

 and crustaceans. 



The sea mullet brings a good price at times, but is subject to rapid price 

 fluctuations. The production varies from year to year, probably as a result of 

 economic influences as well as fluctuations in abundance. Although the total 

 catch and value of the sea mullet is not as high as that of many other species, 

 the fishery nevertheless is important in that it is operated in shallow offshore 

 waters. 



HOGFiSH — Orthopristis chrysopterus (linnaeus) 



Also known as pigfish, this species is one of the most common food fishes of 

 the North Carolina coast. It is found everywhere in the sounds and shallow 

 offshore waters and is present throughout the year. At certain seasons and 

 in some localities it is about the only fish available. It takes a hook readily 

 and the number taken by sports fishing may equal or exceed the commercial 

 catch. The meat has a good flavor, although it is claimed that hogfish from 

 some areas are better than others. Variation in flavor may be due to difference 

 in diet since the hogfish, much like the mullet, feeds on a variety of things. 



Most of the catch is sold fresh, but small quantities are salted for local 

 consumption, 



HARVESTFisH — PepHlus aUptdotus (linnaeus) 



The harvestfish is a small pan fish and is considered an excellent food fish. 

 It is taken during the summer from the bays and sounds, the Pamlico Sound 

 area producing the bulk of the State's catch. It apparently is much more 

 abundant now than forty years ago, when Smith (1907) reported that it had 

 not often been recorded from North Carolina, although it was not considered 

 rare. Average production since 1923 has been in excess of a half a million 

 pounds annually. Little is known about the biology of this species. 



BUTTERFiSH — Porouotus tHcanthus (peck) 



The butterfish resembles the harvestfish in appearance, but it is not as 

 deep bodied and it has smaller dorsal and anal fins. It is found from Massa- 

 chusetts to North Carolina, and in North Carolina is taken in most of the 

 sounds, Pamlico Sound leading in production. 



The butterfish, like the harvestfish, is a small but excellent food fish. Pro- 

 duction is limited and variable. It is present in the sounds from spring to fall, 

 often traveling in large schools. Its winter habitat is not known. It is believed 



I. The "sea mullets" are not mullets at all; they are more properly called kingfishes. They are 

 members of the noise-making or drum family (Sciaenidae) along with the croakers, spot, red and 

 black drums, silver perch and sea trout or weakfishes. 



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