NOTES ON NEW JERSEY FISHES. 385 



feed head down and tail up, the caudal ocellus frequently visible, 

 under the railroad bridge, where they have also been caught, one 

 weighing forty pounds. They have been seen caught on the outer bar 

 as high as fifty-six pounds, though he never saw smaller examples 

 than about twenty pounds in weight. They are valued as a food-fish. 



Leiostomus xanthurus 



Cape May Goody. 



A half -grown example was taken in the surf at Ocean City on Sep- 

 tember 10th, 1908. 



Dr. Phillips says they are very plentiful some years at Corson's 

 Inlet, and very scarce others. They are carnivorous, and great bait 

 thieves. He has also taken them at Somers Point. 



Menticirrhus saxatilis (Schneider). 

 King Fish. 



Young were taken in several haulings of the seine in the sea lettuce, 

 at Ocean City, on September 10th, 1908. They were beautifully varie- 

 gated with deep brown blotches. 



Dr. Phillips has taken them at Corson's Inlet and South Atlantic 

 City. They have been plentiful the last three years, especially the 

 past season, catches being about fifty to seventy-five per man on a tide. 

 He caught fifty-eight on part of one tide this year. The young were 

 also extremely abundant during 1905, and they were then the only 

 fish taken in bait-nets. This and the sea bass are the principal fish 

 for the summer excursionist. 



Pogonias cromis (Linnaeus). 

 Black Drum. 



Dr. Phillips caught one last year, at Corson's Inlet, weighing fifty- 

 eight pounds. Small banded examples of about twelve pounds were 

 caught in surf-casting this year. Though the big fish are said to be 

 inedible and poor eating, the large one he took last year was found to 

 be very good. He thinks its flesh equals that of the red drum. 



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