REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 191 



pound. The monthly fluctuations in abuudiiucc arc sliowu in the fol- 

 lowing table, representini;' the catch of a part of the nets: 



Monthly pound-net calck of spoiled f!(/ueteiitjnc in the vieiniti/ of Caiie Chiirlefi, riryhiia. 



April 



May 



tTiiiie 



July 



Aiij;ust 



Septombi'i". 

 October.... 



Total 



Mouth. 



1889 

 (6 nets). 



Pound/:. 



5,010 

 7,630 

 7, 438 

 3, 343 

 280 



1:3, 707 



1890 

 (5 nets). 



Pounds. 



K, 13K 



10,406 



29, 540 



25, 078 



■ 8, 488 



4, G90 



80, 410 



Cynoscioii regale. Weakfiah ; "Gray trout." 



Unlike its congener, the spotted squeteague, the weakfish is found 

 on this shore only early in the season, being very rarely taken after 

 July, It would seem that coincident with the beginning of the largest 

 catch of bluefish, there is a cessation in the run of weakfish. The fish 

 have an average weight of 1^ iDounds, and, like bluefish, are mostly 

 sold at $2 a bushel, which is equivalent to about 3 cents a pound. In 

 18S1) 12,720 pounds were caught, and in 181)0 19,800 pounds. The 

 monthly yield of the nets for which detailed figures are available was 

 as follows : 



Monthly pound-net catch of weakfish in Northampton County, Va. 



Month. 



1889 

 (6 nets). 



1890 

 (5 nets). 



May 



June 



July 



Total 



Pounds. 

 1,313 

 4, 128 

 1,738 



Povnds. 

 l,(ilT, 

 r,, 4.SU 

 2, 022 



7, 179 



9, 130 



Elacate canada. Cohia; " Bonito"; " Coalfish." 



Most common in June, and probably more numerous on the eastern 

 sliore of Virginia than elsewhere in the Chesapeake. The fish taken 

 weigh about 20 pounds on an average and sell for 25 cents each. Next 

 to the sturgeon this is tlie largest food-fish occurring regularly in the 

 bay; it reaches a weight of 150 pounds. 



Trachynotus carolinus. " I'ompano" ; " Sunfmh." 



Weighs about 1} pounds aiul sells at 12^, (;ents each. Occurs si>ar- 

 ingly between May and September. During some seasons it becomes 

 very abundant. The fish doubtless spawns in the Chesapeake, as rii^e 

 fish have been found in June. 



