I 



^°i'89i!' ] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 89 



32. Menticirriis alburnus L. Whiting. 



U. S. N. M., 43155, 43180. Four specimens, from 9 to 12 inches long. 



The kiug-flsli, M. nebulosus, was not secured at Cape Charles, but Mr. 

 Seal reports it as abundant at St. Jerome's in September, 1889, ranging 

 from 1 to (» inches in length. He took it at Point Lookout in May, 

 1889, also. 



33. Liostomus xanthurus Lac. Spot. 



U. S. :N". M., 43138, 43139. Two specimens. 



Large numbers of young spot from 3 to 4 inches in length were seined 

 in the bay at Cape Charles City. They were present in abundance, 

 numerous schools being seen. Mr. Seal collected the young, li inches 

 long, in the Lower Potomac in May, 1889, and found the species, from 

 3 to C isiches long, abundant at St. Jerome's, Maryland, in September. 

 As a i)an lish, the spot is the most highly prized of all fishes sold in the 

 ^Norfolk market. It is very hardy as an aquarium lish, and Mr. Seal 

 experiences no trouble in transporting and keeping them alive in Wash- 

 ington. 



34. Micropogon undulatus L. Croaker. 



U. S. N. M., 43132, 43158. 



This fish, like the spot, was taken in the shallow waters of the bay 

 at Cape Charles City, in rather large numbers. It ranged in size from 

 3 to 8 inches, those from 3 to 5 being very common. Larger specimens 

 were taken in the pound nets. 



Young specimens, from 1 to 1^ inches long, were collected by Mr. 

 Seal in the Lower Potomac in May, 1889, and larger ones, 3 to G inches 

 long, were taken at St. Jerome's in Sei)tember, 1889. 



35. Sciaenops ocellatus L. Red Drum. 



U. S. N. M., 43130. One specimen, 16 inches long; weight, about 2J 

 pounds. This species was seined in a quiet cove of the bay, near Cape 

 Charles City, at night. Quite a number, about IG inches long, were 

 obtained and brought to Washington, where they do well in the marine 

 aquaria. Mr. Seal observed them as large as 30 inches or more from 

 the pounds. 



I was very much surprised at the great abundance of red drum in the 

 Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, markets on September 20, 1890. 

 Cart loads of this species were to be seen, especially in Portsmouth. 

 The fish ranged in weight from 1 to 3 pounds, and were packed into the 

 carts as thickly as they could be placed standing on their heads or tails. 

 No ice was used on them. 



In November, 1890, Mr. Joseph Ragau, of the Washington market, 

 called my attention to a red drum, which had, besides the two black 

 spots on the caudal fin, three similar marks on either side of the body, 



