68 FISHES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK 



considered in this chapter, which have three. The tail fin is usually not 

 forked and the snout has the tendency to project beyond the medium- 

 sized mouth, although in some of our species it does not do so. The 

 lateral line extends onto the caudal fin, one of the chief "earmarks" of 

 the family. Most of them are readily recognized as such by a person 

 familiar with them, but not so with some of the less typical forms of 

 which the Weakfish is one. Many of the species make grunting sounds, 

 whence the names Croaker and Drumfish. The very large otoliths 

 or ear bones which they possess may bear some relation to these sounds. 

 Eight species of the Weakfish family occur in this vicinity. They 

 are elongate fishes with a deep notch between the rather weak spiny 

 dorsal and the soft rayed fin behind it, but the two may be joined at the 

 base. The Weakfish has a large mouth, the lower jaw extending distinctly 

 further forward than the snout, and its tail fin is slightly emarginate 

 behind. It is a gracefully formed fish abundant during the summer 



WEAKFISH 



months and sought for sport and food. It is silvery in color with irides- 

 cent reflections, dark above and marked with many small irregular 

 dark blotches, the whole effect being that of lacking any bold pattern. 

 The Weakfish is the principal salt-water game fish pursued with 

 rod and line by dwellers of New York City. Straggling Weakfish 

 usually reach our waters in May, but the middle of June has generally 

 arrived before they appear in abundance, the time of their appearance 

 being dependent on whether the season is an early or a late one, and the 

 corresponding temperature of the water. For days before the Weakfish 

 come some of the most enthusiastic fishermen have been going out dili- 

 gently to find them, and the first schools are welcomed with enthusiasm 

 by the angling fraternity who at once take to boats in their pursuit. 



