MICROPOGON UNDULATUS .--The yearly 

 average catch of Atlantic croakers for the 

 area was 152 per hour of trawling, representing 

 7.3 percent of the total catch. 



Only 1.1 to 2.5 were taken per hour of 

 trawling from February to April; the number 

 increased in May and June to 11 to 17, 

 maintained a general level of about 202 to 313 

 from July to September, peaked at 457 in 

 October, declined to 201 and 161 in November 

 and December, and continued to decline to the 

 low in late winter and early spring (table 12). 



The species contributed only 0.1 to 1.6 

 percent of the monthly average catches from 

 January to June. It generally contributedabout 

 14 to 17 percent of the catch from July to 

 November, declined in December, and con- 

 tinued to decline to the low in January to June 

 (table 12). 



CYNOSCION REGALIS .- -The yearly average 

 catch of gray seatrout for the area was 141 

 per hour of trawling, representing 6.8 percent 

 of the total catch. 



Only 1.5 were taken per hour of trawling in 

 March; the number rose steadily through the 

 spring, summer, and fall, reached 186 to 221 

 in November and December, peaked at 698 in 

 January, and declined sharply in February to 

 the low in March (table 12). 



The species contributed 0.2 to 1,7 percent of 

 the monthly average catches from Februaryto 

 April, 2.2 to 4.6 percent in May to September, 

 and 6.2 to 18.9 percent from October to 

 January (peak in January--see table 12.) 



MENTICIRRHUS spp. (mostly M. AMERI- 

 CANUS .--The yearly average catch of king 

 whiting for the area was 100 per hour of 

 trawling, representing 4.8 percent of the total 

 catch. 



About 10 king whiting were taken per hour 

 of trawling in June; the numbers fluctuated 

 between 52 and 163 from July to March 

 (peak in September), dropped to 45 in April, 

 and continued to decline to the low in June 

 (table 12). 



The species contributed only 1.5 and 1.0 

 percent of the monthly average catches in 

 May and June; from July to January it con- 

 tributed fluctuating percentages of 2.9 to 6.8, 

 peaked at 16.6 in March, and declined abruptly 

 in April to the low in May and June (table 12). 



BREVOORTIA spp. (mostly B.TYRANNUS).-- 

 The yearly average catch of menhaden in the 

 South Carolina area was 73 per hour of 

 trawling, representing 3.5 percent of the total 

 catch. 



Only 0,3 to 1 .6 menhaden were takenper hour 

 of trawling fronn September to November; the 

 number increased in December, peaked at 345 

 and 275 in January and February, fluctuated 

 between 75 and 114 from March to June, 

 declined in July, and continued to drop to the 

 low in September to Novennber (table 12). 



The species contributed only 0.1 to 0.3 

 percent of the monthly average catches from 

 July to December, but made up 7.9 to 14.3 

 percent from January to June (except for April); 

 the peak was in February (table 12). 



GEORGIA OUTSIDE 



Figure 5 shows the monthly average number 

 of fish per hour of trawling for all species 

 combined and for the family Sciaenidae, From 

 a low of 591 and 685 fish per hour of trawling 

 in March and April the number increased during 

 late spring and summer to a peak at 2,667 in 

 September, and remained at the high level of 

 1,953 to 2,259 from October to December. The 

 number taken dropped sharply in January and 

 continued to decline to the low in March and 

 April. The yearly average catch for all species 

 combined was nearly 1,400 fish per hour of 

 trawling, of which about 1,000 were Sciaen- 

 idae--or over 2 of every 3 fish taken. 



Families 



Five families of fishes (Sciaenidae, Carang- 

 idae, Ariidae, Clupeidae, and Bothidae--inthat 

 order) were taken in largest numbers in the 

 Georgia Outside area and together contributed 

 1,226 of the 1,391 yearly average number per 

 hour of trawling, and 88.0 percent of the yearly 

 average catch. 



Sciaenidae . --The yearly average catch of 

 croakers for the area was 983 per hour of 

 trawling, representing 70.6 percent of the total 

 catch. 



Only 319 sciaenids were taken per hour of 

 trawling in March; the number increased 

 slowly but steadily over the spring and sun-imer 

 to 951 in August, peaked at 1,907 in September, 

 maintained a high level of 1,550 to 1,764 

 from October to December, declined to 811 in 

 January, and continued to decline to the low in 

 March (fig. 5). 



The sciaenids contributed least to the 

 monthly average catches in February and 

 March at 55.5 and 54.2 percent; from April to 

 January the family reached and maintained a 

 level of 62.2 to 80.7 percent of the catch (peak 

 in October), and then declined abruptly to the 

 low in February and March (table 11). During 

 every month of the year sciaenids were taken 

 in greater numbers than were all other families 

 combined. 



Carangidae .--The yearly average catch of 

 carangids for the area was 111 per hour of 

 trawling, representing 8.0 percent of the total 

 catch. 



About 2 carangids were taken per hour of 

 trawling in April; the number increased rapidly 

 in late spring and summer to 186 in August and 

 the peak of 321 in September, declined irregu- 

 larly during late fall and early winter but 



10 



