THE ANGLER AND HUNTSMAN 57 



coasts, ranging northward as far as Cape Cod. It varies 

 greatly in size, but the average weight is under 5 pounds. 

 The weakfish, as it is commonly called, however, has been 

 known to attain a weight of 30 pounds. 



The spotted squeteague or "sea trout" (Cynoscion 

 nebulosum) is also a valuable food-fish, and ranges from 

 Chesapeake Bay southward, being taken in largest num- 

 bers in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, and the Gulf 

 States. It reaches a maximum weight of 10 pounds, the 

 average weight being about 2 pounds. 



The Sheepshead: 



This fish (Archosargus probatocephalus) is generally 

 accounted one of the best food-fishes of American waters. 

 It has a deep body, of a grayish color, marked by 9 trans- 

 verse black bands, and a peculiarly shaped head, with 

 mouth armed with prominent incisor teeth, which make it 

 easily recognizable. Its range extends from Cape Cod to 

 Texas, being found in greater abundance from Chesapeake 

 Bay southward. It reaches a weight of more than 20 

 pounds, the average on the Atlantic coast, however, being 

 not more than 7 or 8 pounds, and in the Gulf of Mexico it 

 seldom exceeds 3 pounds. In southern waters this fish is 

 a permanent resident, but in the northern portion of its 

 range it is found only during spring, summer and autumn. 



The Sea Herring: 



Tthis fish is scientifically denominated "Clupea haren- 

 gus," and exists in great abundance on both shores of the 

 Atlantic Ocean north of the latitude of about 37 degrees 

 north. On the coast of North America it is not regularly 

 abundant south of Cape Cod, but is occasionally found as 

 far south as Chesapeake Bay. In numbers this species is 

 said to be exceeded by no other fish. It is also found 

 abundantly on the Pacific Coast, but is there v own as a 



