REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 113 



three-quarters inches long were taken August 10th and 11th; September 

 2nd, specimen one and one-half inches long; September 30th, several 

 specimens over two inches in length were taken (Bean, 1903). Adults 

 reach fifteen inches. 



106. Trachinotus carolinus (Linnaeus). Common Pompano. 



Geog. Dist.: Abundant on South Atlantic and gulf coasts of United 

 States, straying to Brazil and Cape Cod. Taken at Woods Hole (Baird, 

 1873; Bean, 1880; Smith, 1898). At Nantucket (Sharp and Fowler, 

 1904) and at Noank, Connecticut (B. S. N. H.). The young are summer 

 and fall visitors on Long Island shore (Bean, 1903). 



Season in R. I.: Reported in Narragansett Bay by R. I. Fish Com., 

 1899. 



Reproduction : Probably spawn on east coast of Florida in April and May. 

 Full of nearly ripe spawn in April on the coast of Florida (Henshall, 

 1889). 



Food: Stomach contents: fishes, small Crustacea, amphipods, lamelli- 

 branch shells, diatoms, and vegetable debris. Often seen rooting or 

 digging in the sand for food (Jordan and Evermann, 1902, p. 318). 



Size: Eighteen inches. At Woods Hole, young from two to four inches in 

 length appear between July 20th and August 1st and remain until 

 September (Smith, 1898). 



POMATOMID^. The Bluefishes. 



107. Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnseus). Bluefish. 

 Geog. Dist.: Atlantic and Indian Oceans. 



Migrations: Its migrations are probably more influenced by the presence 

 of food than by temperature. They move along the coast from the 

 south toward ihe north in the spring, following the schools of menhaden. 

 Immense schools appear off the coast of Carolina in March and April; 

 reaching the Jersey coast in the early part of May ; Newport, middle of 

 May to first of June. In October they leave the northern coasts and 

 appear off the coast of Carolina about the middle of November, where 

 a very extensive fishery exists until late in December. Their presence 

 off the Carolina coast in autumn is preceded by schools of menhaden 

 and marked by flocks of birds (Prof. Baird, Report U. S. Fish Com., 

 1873). 



Season in R. I.: Common but not abundant. They arrive about June 

 first and remain until the last of November. These fishes are 10 to 14 

 inches in length. About the first of September, young about 5 inches 

 15 



