Specimens: 



This fish is a rare straggler to Rhode Island waters. The last 

 record of its appearance was on August 23, 1953, when one speci- 

 men weighing 85 pounds and two 60 pound fish were taken in traps 

 off Ledge Road, Newport. This was the first appearance of tarpon 

 in Newport waters since 1919, when one was taken in a trap. Tracy 

 (1910) mentions five tarpon taken in August, 1906, from a Newport 

 trap off Second Beach near Purgatory Point, Newport. 



Family Dussumieriidae 

 Genus Etrumeus 



(39) Etrumeus sadina (Mitchill) 1815 

 Round herring 



Specimens: 



This species, the most slender of the herring family, is common 

 in southern waters and is an occasional visitor to New England 

 waters. Tracy (1910) cites a member of this species in the United 

 States National Museum taken at Newport by S. Powell. None 

 were observed or recorded during this survey. 



Family Clupeidae 

 Genus Clupea 



(40) Clupea harengus Linnaeus 1758 

 Sea herring, blue back, sardine 



Specimens: (PLATE 15) 



This species was observed to appear in large schools in Block 

 Island Sound from January to March. Considerable annual fluctua- 

 tion occurs in the abundance of this species. From Table 1, page S3, 

 it is evident that 1949 and 1952 were years of greatest abundance. 

 During mild winters the sea herring catch declines in Rhode Island 

 waters. 



Sanders (1952) noted sea herring present in Block Island Sound 

 from January 6 to March 15, 1951. The mature individuals formed 

 the major portion of the herring population until early February, 

 after which juveniles were dominant. During January and Feb- 

 ruary the fish were found in the coldest water, which was a narrow 



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