VOL. X 

 1«91 



m^'] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 91 



41. Lutjanus caxis Bl. it Schu. Gray Snapper. 



U. S. N. M., 43209. Three yoiiug specimens, 1^ and 2 inches long. 

 D. X, U; A. Ill, 8. 



Color: Upper parts dark bluish; sides olive; throat, pectorals, ven- 

 trals, and caudal pale ; dorsal and anal spotted ; membrane of spinous 

 dorsal edged with black. A blue stripe as wide as the pupil extends 

 from the snout through the eye to end of head. The dark spots on 

 scales form longitudinal stripes on body. 



42. Centropristis striatus L. Sea Bass. 



U. S. N. M., 43143, 43171, 43211. Ten specimens, from U to 7 inches 

 long. 



Tliis hsh is called Black Will at Cape Charles City, while at St. 

 Jerome's, Maryland, Mr. Kenly tells mo they call it Black Nell. Those 

 observed by us were small, requiring three or four fish to the pound. 

 Very young specimens, from 2 to 4 inches long, were common in the 

 seine. A few individuals weighing about 1 pound each were taken at 

 the end of the breakwater. 



According to Mr. Seal the sea bass is taken in the Potomac River as 

 far up as the Wicomico Kiver. It occurs also in Breton's Bay, near 

 Leonardtown, Maryland, and at Point Lookout he collected a number 

 ranging in length from 6 to 7 inches. 



43. Pomatonius saltatrix L. Bluefish. 



U. S. N. M., 43134, 431G7. Two specimens, 8 inches long. 



This is the "tailor" of Chesapeake Bay. The young, from 3 to 8 

 inches long, were very abundant around the wharves at Cape Charles 

 City. Few large bluefish were being taken in the pound nets at the 

 time of our visit. Earlier in the season the fishing was much better. 

 From the 19th to the 21st of September, 1889, Mr. Seal found the young, 

 measuring from 5 to 8 inches in length, quite abundant along the 

 j wharves at St. Jerome's, Maryland, and in the Potomac River as far up 

 as Lower Cedar Point. 



44. Elacate Canada L. Crab-eater. 



U. S. K. M., 43145,43161. Fourteen specimens, ranging from 11 to 

 14 inches in length. 



This species is called " bonito" in the Chesapeake. It is taken in the 

 pound nets. Mr. Seal saw this fish from the pounds measuring at least 

 3 feet in length. In 1 889 I saw a specimen in the Washington, Dis- 

 trict of Columbia, market, which measured more than 4 feet in length, 

 and probably weighed as mudi as 35 pounds. Specimens ranging from 

 2 to 3 feet are common in this market during the summer months. 



