224 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



found from Massachusetts to Florida; it is taken in large quantities 

 from New Jersey northward with lines and traps. It attains a weight 

 of 5 pounds, but the average weight is only L or IJ pounds. 



THE SQUETEAGUES. 



The squeteague or weakfish {Gynoscion regalis) is a prominent food- 

 fish of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the northern limit of its range 

 being in the vicinity of Cape Cod. It goes in immense schools and is 

 taken in large quantities for market, in North Carolina, Chesapeake 

 Bay, Delaware Bay, on the New Jersey and New York coasts, and in 

 southern New England. It varies greatly in size; the average weight 

 is under 5 pounds, but it has been known to attain a weight of 30 

 pounds. In the vicinity of Woods Hole this fish spawns in June. Its 

 eggs are 2^ inch in diameter, and at an average temperature of 60° F. 

 hatch in 2 days. 



The spotted squeteague or "sea trout" {Gynoscion nebulosum) has 

 also been propagated on a small scale. It is a valuable food- fish from 

 Chesapeake Bay southward, being taken in largest quantities in Vir- 

 ginia, North Carolina, Florida, and the Gulf States. Its average weight 

 is 2 pounds and its maximum 10 pounds. It spawns in bays and sounds 

 in spring and summer, the time varying with the latitude. The eggs 

 are buoyant, -^ inch in diameter, and hatch in about 40 hours at a 

 temperature of 77° F. This species has been artificially hatched on 

 the southwest coast of Florida by the steamer Fish Hawk. 



THE SHEEPSHEAD. 



The sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalns) is generally regarded 

 as one of the best food fishes of American waters. Its deep body, of a 

 grayish color, marked by 8 transverse black bands, and its peculiarly 

 shaped head, with mouth armed with prominent incisor teeth, make it 

 readily recognized. It ranges from Cape Cod to Texas, but is most 

 abundant from Chesapeake Bay southward. It attains a weight of 

 over 20 pounds, but the average weight on the Atlantic coast is not 

 over 7 or 8 jmunds, and in the Gulf of Mexico scarcely exceeds 3 pounds. 

 In southern waters the fish is a permanent resident, b.iit in the northern 

 part of its range it is found only during spring, summ-er, and autumn. 

 The spawning season is from March to June, according to the locality. 



The artificial hatching of the sheepshead has been undertaken on 

 several occasions, but is not regularly prosecu«ted. The m<ost extensive 

 work was conducted by the Fish Hawk in March and April, 1881), when 

 23,400,000 eggs were taken in the vicinity of San Carlos Bay, on the 

 southwest coast of Florida. These yielded 16,500,000 healthy fry, most 

 of which were planted in local waters. 



In capturing spawning fish on the Florida coast it was found that 

 the best time to use the seine was just before sundown, as the flood tide 

 was about to " make." The fish were then easily taken in large numbers. 

 Seine hauls in the morning consisted only of male fish. Spawning 



