LUTJANIDAE Snappers 



Lutjanus aynagris (Linnaeus) Spot Snapper, Lane 



Snapper 



The spot snapper was the only representative of this family observed in the 

 area. They were taken occasionally by anglers during the fall months and varied 

 in length from 12 to 17 cm. 



LIOGNATHIDAE (GERRIDAE) Mojarras 



Eucinostomus sp. 



The mojarras that occurred in the study area probably were comprised of 

 the common mojarra, E. guln (Cuvier and Valenciennes). They were observed only 

 during the warmer months and first appeared each year as larvae approximately 

 18 mm. in length. The duration of their stay in waters around the lagoon mouth for 

 the different years was as follows: 



1954 June 7 to November 24 



1955 July 15 to November 4 



1956 July 3 to November 13 



1957 August 6 to October 28 



Larval mojarras could be readily identified by the conspicuous black-tipped 

 dorsal. As juveniles (25-40 mm.), they were often observed in discrete, motion- 

 less schools, all in the same horizontal plane, just above the surfaces of flat 

 rocks near or on the bottom of the tidal basin. Easily captured by cast net, they 

 were used frequently as live bait for flounder, trout, and redfish. 



Adults never were observed before the latter part of August, and varied 

 greatly in daily abundance until their disappearance in November. One interesting 

 observation was their suspicion of a baited hook. Although they would dart forward 

 quickly to snap up bits of cut bait used as chum, they would ignore the same type 

 of bait when attached to a hook and line. 



Their silvery appearance, coupled with distinctive feeding and swimming 

 habits, nnakes the mojarra a colorful and interesting fish for marine aquaria 

 enthusiasts. 



POMADASYIDAE (HAEMULIDAE) Grunts 



Orthopristis chrysopterus (Linnaeus) Pigfish 



On April 12, 1956, anglers were observed catching numbers of pigfish around 

 the lagoon mouth. They were nearly unifornn in size, 16-18 cm., and evidently 

 were from a school that had strayed into the area, for this was the only record 

 of their capture, 



SCIAENIDAE Croakers 



Sciaenid larvae appeared in the plankton net collections as shown in table 4. 

 These were almost connpletely dominated by four species, namely: the croaker, 

 MicTopogon undulatus (Linnaeus); the spot, Leiostomus xanthurus Lace'pede; the redfish 



15 



