BIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY 275 



means as large or as difficult to catch as some of the others, particularly 

 in the Atlantic where it averages smaller than in the Pacific. It has no 

 commercial value, is not very edible, and is often thrown back when caught. 



The Atlantic sailfish is present from Brazil to as far north as Woods Hole; 

 it occurs in quantity off Florida and the Bahamas and is suspected of spawn- 

 ing off Miami during May and June. It is known to spawn off Port Isabel, 

 Texas. The early stages of this fish are known and have been figured and 

 described by Liitken and others. Like other fishes whose eggs are pelagic 

 and therefore drift to considerable distances, spawning areas are difficult 

 to locate as young are quite often found at considerable distance from them. 



The sailfish does not seem to be plentiful off North Carolina, but neither 

 does it seem to have been tried for very often or with any persistence. It 

 would appear to be present in sufficient quantity to attract anglers. It is 

 fished off Hatteras from June to October and off Morehead City and the 

 vicinity, from July through September from ten to fifteen miles offshore. 

 Small ones are sometimes taken in late summer in the Morehead City section. 

 A few sailfish have been sighted within twelve miles off Wrightsville Beach, 

 and some taken about forty miles off Southport, between September and 

 November. 



The Atlantic sailfish averages around 35 pounds with a usual topweight 

 of 60 pounds, but the rod and reel record, taken off Miami Beach weighed 

 106. 



TARPON 



Tarpon atlanticus (Cuvier & Valenciennes) 



If this very popular game fish could be persuaded to take the hook in 

 North Carohna waters, it would undoubtedly attract many anglers to its 

 grounds. North Carolinians are inclined to attribute its refusal of bait to 

 inexpert angling, but the same situation is true in Bimini, B.W.I., which 

 is a center for expert anglers. It is possible that the fish will not take bait 

 in clear water. 



The tarpon is a coastwise fish going well up into fresh water and able 

 to stand considerable temperature variations. It occurs from Nova Scotia 

 to Brazil and is also found in Queensland, and, in enormous numbers, off 

 Nigeria and the Gold Coast of Africa. Concentration points are the Gulf 

 coast of Florida, Texas, and Louisiana; the Rio Encantado, Cuba; the 

 Panuco River, Mexico; the Chagres River at Gatun Spillway; Lagos, 

 Nigeria, and the mouth of the Volta River, Gold Coast, West Africa. 



The fish travels in schools and there is no evidence of migration other 

 than a spring drift northward and movement in and out of streams. It is a 

 voracious fish, feeding on fishes and crustaceans. 



Both adult and young are fished for sport; the best season for them is 



