Economic Importance: 



This firm, white meated species is a high quality food fish. During 

 1957, 317,190 pounds of sea bass, valued at $38,447, were landed at 

 Rhode Island ports. 



Genus Rypticus 



(147) Rypticus bistrispinus (Mitchill) 1818 

 Soapfish 



Specimens: 



There is one record of this tropical species in Rhode Island waters. 

 Tracy (1910) mentions a specimen taken at Newport by Powell 

 and described by Cope. 



Family Lobotidae 

 Genus Lobotes 



(148) Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch) 1790 

 Tripletail, flasher, black grunt 



Specimens: 



This warm water species is a rare straggler to Rhode Island 

 waters. Tracy (1910) mentions specimens taken near Prudence 

 Island, Saunderstown, Wickford and Quonset, taken from 1901 to 

 1908. 



Family Priacanthidae 

 Genus Priacanthus 



(149) Priacanthus arenathus Cuvier and Valenciennes 1829 

 Big eye, catalufa 



Specimens: 



Two members of this tropical species, one taken in October, 1939, 

 from Wilcox Trap, Tiverton; and the other from Middle Bridge, in 

 August, 1940, are in the collection of the Narragansett Marine 

 Laboratory. The writer collected a 118 mm. (TL) big eye in October, 

 1957, from the traps at Newport. 



Genus P scudo priacanthus 



(150) Pseudopriacanthus alius (CAW) 1862 

 I )eep big eye 



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