310 



FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



269. CYNOSCION REGALIS (Bloch & Schneider). 



"Trout"; "Sea Trout"; "Gray Trout"; "Summer Trout"; Weak-fish; Squeteague; 

 Yellow-finned Trout (S. 0.) ; Shad Trout; Sun Trout. 



Johnius regalis Bloch & Schneider, Systema Ichthyologiae, 75, 1801; New York. 



Cynoscion regalis. Yarrow, 1877, 209; Beaufort. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 377; Beaufort. Earll, 1887, 493; 



coast near Wilmington. Jenkins, 1887, 91; Beaufort. Jordan & Evermann, 1898, 1407, pi. ccxx, fig. 



562. Wilson, 1900, 355; Beaufort. Linton, 1905, 384; Beaufort. 



Diagnosis. — Body elongate, very slightly compressed, depth contained 4 to 4.25 times 

 in total length; head large, contained 3.33 times in length; mouth large, maxillary extending 

 beyond pupil and contained 2.16 times in length of head; teeth sharp, canines large; snout 

 contained 4 to 4.33 times in head; eye .14 to .20 head, .75 snout; gill-rakers long and sharp, 16 

 in number, 11 on lower arm of arch; scales in lateral series about 56, in transverse series about 

 17; dorsal rays x+i,26 (to 29); anal rays ii,ll to ii,13; caudal very slightly concave; pectorals 

 short, .5 head. Color: silvery purple and other reflections; head, back and sides marked by 

 numerous small irregular blackish blotches, mostly arranged in wavy oblique lines; dorsal and 

 caudal fins dusky; ^-entral, anal, and lower margin of caudal yellow, {regalis, royal.) 



Fig. 138. Squeteague; Weak-fish. Cynoscion regalis. 



This species is found along our coast from southern New England to the Gulf 

 States, and is very abundant from North Carolina northward, being caught for 

 market in large quantities and being the most valuable member of the drum 

 family in United States waters. It goes in schools, which may contain manj'- 

 thousands of individuals, and the fish composing a given school are ordinarily 

 of the same size. The usual weight is about 2 pounds, but many fish weigh 4 to 6 

 pounds, and examples weighing 10 to 12 pounds are occasionall}^ met with, the 

 maximum known weight being 30 pounds. 



The common names of this species are numerous, and some of them are very 

 improper. Weak-fish and squeteague are those most frequently employed on 

 the northern part of the east coast; but in the Southern States "trout" and its 

 compounds are in general use. The names applied in North Carolina are " trout ", 

 "sea trout", "summer trout", and "gray trout". 



In North Carolina this species is much less abundant than the "spotted 

 trout", although it is- by no means uncommon. Like the other species, it is 

 present almost throughout the year. It is taken in "sink nets" in wdnter, and with 

 drag nets, drift nets, and hook and line in spring and fall. The catch is smaller 

 than formei'ly, and the market value of the fish is less than that of the " spotted 

 trout". 



