336 Great Barracuda, Four-spined Stickleback 



General Information: This species is most plentiful in the 

 southern part of its range but in some years is very com- 

 mon in the north. Frequently it may be found along sandy 

 shores in bays not far from ocean inlets. It is a voracious 

 species feeding largely on small fishes. 

 Economic Importance: None. 



Great Barracuda 

 Sphyraena barracuda (Shaw) 



The Great Barracuda is a West Indian species rarely reach- 

 ing farther north than South Carolina. Stray specimens 

 have been reported as far north as Massachusetts. 



Four-spined Stickleback 

 Apeltes quadracus (Mitchill) 



Color: Greenish brown above; belly silvery; dark, irreg- 

 ular patches on back and sides. 



Distribution: Found from Nova Scotia to Virginia in salt 

 and brackish water and sometimes in fresh water. 

 Size: Reaches a length of IV2 inches. 

 General Information: This species is a common inhabitant 

 of salt marshes and is usually found among dense masses 

 of seaweed. Unlike the three-spined stickleback, the Four- 

 spined Stickleback is never found floating on the surface 

 at sea. The Four-spined Stickleback spawns in spring and 

 early summer. Its spawning habits are similar to those of 

 the three-spined stickleback below, but the nest is not 



