28 TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHEEIES. 



13 inches long, taken by the writer, is the largest recorded. Its 

 average size is 6 inches. 



Range. — Cape Cod to Texas; Bermuda and Cuba; common in 

 lower Chesapeake Bay and abundant off the Carolina coast. 



62. Archosargus unimaculatus (Bloch). Brim; Bream; Salema. 



This species is not common about Key West, although a few are 

 seen from time to time in the live cars at the wharves. It is a good 

 food fish, but because of the small catch its commercial value is 

 very limited. In Porto Rico it is an abundant and important food 

 fish. Maximum weight, about 2 pounds; average, one-half pound. 



Range. — Charleston to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ; rare north of Florida 

 Keys; reported from Charleston, Cuba, Jamaica, Porto Rico, Pan- 

 ama, and Brazil. 



63. Archosargus probatocephalus (Walbaum). Sheepshead. 



The sheepshead is not common in the immediate vicinity of Key 

 West, where the annual catch is only a few hundred pounds, but it is 

 one of Florida's most important food fishes and is caught in large 

 numbers on both coasts. However, it is most abundant off the south- 

 west coast along the shores of Lee. De Soto, and Manatee Counties. 

 At Marco the writer caught many sheepshead Avhile fishing directly 

 from the shore. It is found chiefly about wharves, wrecks, and 

 mangrove roots. The greater part of its food consists of crabs and 

 mollusks, which it can easily crunch with its strong teeth. Maxi- 

 mum weight 30 pounds, but individuals over 15 pounds are com- 

 paratively rare; average weight, 3 pounds. 



Range. — Atlantic and Gulf coasts, from Cape Cod to Texas; 

 formerly rather common, but now rare north of Cape Henry, Va. 

 In Chesapeake Bay, where it was once common, it is now very 

 scarce. 



64. Xystaema cinereum (Walbaum). Broad shad; Majarra. 



This small fish is taken in limited numbers about the Florida 

 keys, where it is caught with hook and line in water 8 feet or more 

 in depth. The annual catch is perhaps not over a few hundred 

 pounds. It is an excellent food fish, and in Porto Rico it is an im- 

 portant market fish. Maximum weight, 2 pounds; average, one- 

 half pound. 



Range. — Both coasts of tropical America, north to Lower Cali- 

 fornia, and southern Florida. 



65. Kyphosus sectatrix (Linnaeus). Rudder-fish; Bermuda chub. 



This species is not commonly seen in the markets of Key West, 

 and it is found only sparingly about the keys throughout the year. 

 It is known for its peculiar habit of following vessels at sea, pre- 

 sumably for the waste food thrdwn • overboard. It is said to be a 

 worthy game fish. Maximum weight, 9 pounds; average, 2 pounds. 



Range. — Cape Cod to Panama ; not common on the Carolina coast, 

 north of which it is a rare straggler; recorded from Bermuda and 

 Porto Rico and said to occur in the Canary Islands and rarely in the 

 Mediterranean. ' 



