FOREWORD 



In 1927, the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries began a study of the marine fishes along the Middle 

 Atlantic States. One of the most important of these was the scup ( Stenotomus chrysops). Em- 

 phasis was placed on this species, but data on others, including weakfish, summer flounder, 

 butterfish, croaker, and sea bass, were collected when practicable. Considerable data were 

 accumulated on scup by 1935, but publication funds were not then available. Later, with the 

 beginning of World War II, fishery research in the Middle Atlantic was suspended and the data 

 were stored. 



In 1949, headquarters for the Middle Atlantic Fisheries Investigations of the Bureau was 

 established at Beaufort, N.C., with funds allotted for a study of the Atlantic shad. The files from 

 the old Middle Atlantic Investigation were then sent to Beaufort for storage. From time to time, 

 since the 1930's, Federal and State biologists of the Middle Atlantic area urged that this mate- 

 rial be published to aid their studies. The scup information was particularly valuable, for this 

 species is being studied Intensively at the present time by several agencies. 



All the early material on scup was assembled. This included considerable basic 

 data, tables and figures, and part of a rough manuscript by the senior author of this paper. He 

 was no longer available to complete the manuscript, having accepted employment in a private 

 organization overseas. With his consent the junior author completed the manuscript. 



In undertaking this task, the junior author has attempted to use all the available data 

 and as much of the old manuscript as possible. Considerable revision was necessary; apparently 

 some material was missing, and data were not available to support all the conclusions reached 

 in the original manuscript. While leaving many questions unanswered, the manuscript, as now 

 presented, furnishes much basic data on the early fishery which should prove valuable to later 

 workers. The conclusions in the manuscript appear sound. 



The catch of scup in recent years has increased considerably, and in 1960 (the latest 

 figures available), the catch of this species in the Middle Atlantic area, where the bulk of the 

 catch is now landed, ranked second in poundage and fifth in value. Graphs of catches in the New 

 England, Middle Atlantic, and Chesapeake Bay States from 1930 through 1960 are given in the 

 appendix for reference purposes. No attempt has been made to account for the increase in catches 

 or to relate recent catches to the conclusions in the present paper. This presumably will be at- 

 tempted by those who are now studying this fishery. 



During the revision of the manuscript, valuable help and suggestions were received from 

 James R. Westman, Rutgers University; Paul E. Hamer, New Jersey Department of Fish and 

 Game; Edward C. Raney, Cornell University; and Robert L. Edwards, Bureau of Commercial 

 Fisheries. 



Editor's note: The basic portions of this report were written in the late 1930's. Use of the present tense 

 refers to that time. References to theU.S. Bureau of Fisheries are correct since the Fish and Wildlife Serv- 

 ice was not established until 1940. 



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