224 FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



maxillary reaching to front of orbit; eye longer than snout, .33 length of head; scales thin, 

 deciduous, about 90 in lateral series; dorsal fin falcate, the rays iii,45; anal fui similar to dorsal, 

 the rays iii,43; caudal fin long, very deeply forked; pectorals 1.4 to 1.6 times length of head. 

 Color: pale green above, golden yellow or silvery below, {alepidotus, unsealed.) 



The harvest-fish ranges from Massachuvsetts to South America, and is not 

 uncommon in Chesapeake Bay and southward. Although it has not often been 

 recorded from North Carohna, it is not rare there. About Roanoke Island, in 

 Croatan and Pamhco sounds, it is well known under the name of "star" or 

 "star-fish". It is often taken in pound nets in Pamlico Sound, and is there 

 considered an excellent food-fish. On December 13, 1890, Dr. Kendall found 

 several live specimens stranded on the beach at Hatteras Inlet. During July 

 and August, 1905, more than 500 specimens were reported as being caught in 

 Beaufort Harbor in a pound net operated for the laboratory. Eight inches 

 appears to be about the maximum length attained. The young are often found 

 beneath the "Portuguese man-of-war" and other large medusae. 



Genus PORONOTUS Gill. Butter-fishes. 



Similar to Peprilus, but with depth of body much less, the dorsal and anal 

 fins less elongated, and a series of large, wide-set pores along the back; lateral 

 line arched and placed high on the side; pectorals long; ventrals wanting. One 

 species. {Poronotus, pore-back.) 



193. PORONOTUS TRIACANTHUS (Peck). 

 "Butter-fish"; "Butter-perch"; Dollar-fish; Harvest-fish. 



Slromateus Iriacanthus Peck, Memoirs American Academy, ii, part 2, 48, pi. 2, fig. 2, 1800; Piscataqua River, 



New Hampshire. Jordan, 1886, 27; Beaufort. 

 Poronotus Iriacanthus, Yarrow, 1877, 209; Beaufort. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 377; Beaufort (after Yarrow). 



Jordan & Evermann, 1898, 2849, pi. cl, fig. 405. 

 Rhombus triacanthus, Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 967. 



Diagnosis. — Body oval, dorsal and ventral curves similar, depth contained 2.3 times in 

 total length; head .25 length; maxillary not extending as far as anterior margin of eye; lower 

 jaw somewhat the longer; snout very short and obtuse; eye .25 length of head; gill-rakers .6 

 diameter of eye; scales very small; a row of conspicuous pores on back near base of dorsal fin; 

 dorsal rays in, 45; anal rays in, 38; pectorals longer than head; caudal deeply forked. Color: 

 bluish silvery, with numerous irregular, discreet, dark spots (not evident after death), {tri- 

 acanthus, three-spined.) 



Ranges along the entire east coast of the United States, and is abundant 

 from Massachusetts to North Carolina from spring to fall. Yarrow reported the 

 species as not abundant at Beaufort; Jordan & Gilbert and Jenkins did not find 

 it there. It occurs, however, in the inside waters near Beaufort and Morehead 

 from April to fall, being most common during the latter season. According to 

 Dr. Coker it is caught in large numbers in some parts of Pamlico Sound (as in 

 the vicinity of Portsmouth), and is also taken about Cape Lookout. It is com- 

 mon about Roanoke Island from May through the summer. In June, 1899, one 

 was found in the bell-cavity of a jelly-fish (Stomolophus) at Beaufort, On 



