134 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



Carolina waters contain several species although the commercial catch is 

 made up largely of the summer or southern flounder, Paralichthys dentatus. 

 Although the flounder is not one of the leading species in the State in total 

 production, it is important to the fishermen because it is a year-around fishery 

 and fills the gap in fishing created by the seaward migration of other fish in 

 winter. 



The flounder is a bottom feeder and is found in the harbors and sounds. 

 The fish move out of the inlets during the winter and are taken by offshore 

 trawlers. Spawning is believed to occur in the ocean, perhaps not far offshore, 

 since larvae are found close to shore in greater numbers than in the inside 

 waters. 



CARP — Cyprinus caprio (linnaeus) 



The prolific fast-growing carp was introduced into North Carolina in 1879, 

 according to Smith (1907), and quickly became established in the waters of 

 the State. For many years, from the 1870's to the 1890's, the carp was the 

 subject of great interest and was extensively investigated, cultured, and 

 transplanted to many parts of the United States by the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission. For an exhaustive review of the carp, see Cole, 1905. It has a low 

 value as a food fish, the meat having an inferior flavor and texture, but it 

 has been successfully used as food for other fish being propagated in hatch- 

 eries. There is, therefore, little demand for fresh carp and the price is low. 

 The carp fishery in North Carolina is variable, but on the average is worth 

 less than $20,000 annually. 



SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS 



The present knowledge of the natural history of the commercially impor- 

 tant finfish of the State is only of a general nature. We know, for example, 

 something about where and when certain fish spawn. In most cases, spawning 

 has not been observed but ripe females have been taken. The location of 

 ripe fish in relation to inside or outside waters and the appearance of the 

 larval stages at given times and locations indicate the approximate times 

 and places for spawning. In the case of the jumping mullet, for example, we 

 can say only that it is believed to spawn during November and December, 

 in the ocean — not far off shore. This statement is made on the basis of the 

 observed fact that mature fish pass through the inlets to the ocean in 

 October and November, and that, about two weeks later, larval mullet are 

 taken in the vicinity of the inlets. Information on other species is of a 

 similar nature. The type of bottom, the temperature and depth of water in 

 which most species spawn are not known. 



Little is known regarding the life of most species while they are in the 



