90 FISHES FROM CHESAPEAKE BAY — BEAN. 



those of the light side being very close together, while the ones of the 

 left side were farther apart ; the body spots being the same, white edged, 

 as the one at the root of the tail, which is seldom, if ever, absent. 



36. Archosargus probatocephalus Walb. Sheepsliead. 



U. S. K. M., 43187. One specimen, 4 inches long. Mr. Seal obtained 

 a few young examples of this species. A few days before our arrival 

 at Cai)e Charles City a hook and line fisherman had taken six fine 

 sheepshead along the piles forming the breakwater at that place. In 

 May, 1889, Mr. Seal failed to secure this species in the Lower Poto- 

 mac. At St. Jerome's, Maryland, in September, 1889, he purchased a 

 specimen measuring 20 inches, which had been captured on a ledge J 

 near Point Lookout. The fishermen at this point receive 17 cents ])er 

 pound for sheepshead. 



This valuable species seems destined to extinction in our northern 

 waters. The outrageous practice of dynamiting fish on the New Jer- 

 sey coast has driven it away from places where a few years ago it was 

 moderately abundant. 



37. Diplodus holbrooki Bean. Holbrook's Scup. 



U. S. N. M., 42486, 43152, 43198. Seven specimens. A small num- i 

 ber of this beautiful scup were seined, and Mr. Seal succeeded in bring- 

 ing several living individuals to Washington. A distinctive mark of, 

 this species is the black blotch around the caudal peduncle. 



D. XII, 14; A. Ill, 14. Scales in lateral line 55. Length of speci- 

 mens, 4 and 5 inches. 



38. Stejiotomus chrysops L. Scup. 



TJ. S. N. M., 42490, 43184. Five specimens, from 5 to 8 inches long. 



Very few of the common scup were seined by us at Cape Charles 

 City, and in the Norfolk market the species was equally rare, September 

 20, 1890. A dealer gave me the name "maiden'' for a scup abouf 8 

 inches long. 



39. Lagodon rhoniboides L. Fair-maid. 



U. S. N. M., 42489, 43157, 43189. Numerous specimens, from 5 to 

 6i inches long. This species was seined in the bay at Cape Charles 

 City in large numbers. It is very beautiful in life and a hardy fish for 

 the aquaria. At Cape Charles City it is called fair-maid, a very appro- 

 priate name, owing to its i)leasing colors. 



40. Orthopristis chrysopterus L. Pig-fisli. 



U. S. N. M., 43135. Fourteen specimens, ranging in length from 3 

 to inches. A specimen 11 inches long was obtained by Mr. Kenly in 

 Norfolk. Its vulgar name is derived from its annoying habit of steal-; 

 ing bait off hooks. 



