THE CHAKLKSTON SQUETEAGUE. 365 



ocean and deep water, and never approach."* the bays and inlets along the coast, while it is a 

 larger animal. 



The lew specimens which he had seen were taken off Charleston Bar, at about twenty miles 

 from land and in about fifteen or twenty fathoms of water. The very peculiarities which he men- 

 tioned are characteristic of the adult Squeteague. 



117. THE SPOTTED SQUETEAGUE CYNOSCION MACULATUM. 



Associated with the Squeteague in the waters off the coast of New Jersey and on the eastern 

 shore of Virginia is a species belonging to the same genus, but somewhat different, being char- 

 acterized by the presence of well-defined dark sj>ot. It becomes more abundant as we proceed 

 southward, until off the coast of North Carolina and Georgia, where it is one of the most abundant 

 food-fishes. Owing to its shape and the presence of well-marked spots on the sides it is usually 

 known on the Southern coast as the "Salmon" or "Spotted Trout," and there are not wanting 

 sportsmen in the Southern States who maintain with dogmatic earnestness the existence of the 

 true Salmon Trout in the waters of their coast. This fish is of course in every respect very unlike 

 a trout, and the name "Spotted Squeteague" has been proposed for it. It is difficult, however, 

 to bring about a change in a name which has been in use for several generations, and it is 

 probable that the name "Sea Trout" will always be used. Genio Scott proposed the name 

 " Spotted Silver-sides," which is not particularly appropriate, and which no one but himself has 

 ever used. 



The history of American fishes contains very little respecting the habits of this species, 

 although it is so important an element of food to the. inhabitants of the Southern coast. We have, 

 however, been favored by Dr. H. C. Yarrow with notes made at Fort Macon, North Carolina, in 

 which many of the deficiencies in our information are supplied. According to his account, the 

 Spotted Trout is not found in that locality during the winter, or only in small numbers, making 

 its first appearance in February on its way from the south, and attaining its greatest abundance 

 about the middle of April. 



Little is known of its rate of growth, although, according to some observers, this increase 

 amounts to about six inches per annum ; so that a fish of average size, or eighteen inches, may be 

 considered as three years old. There is no perceptible difference in the sexes as to rate of growth 

 or general appearance, excepting in the fuller belly of the female. 



Dr. Yarrow states that they come from the south in the spring and pass through the inlets 

 on the flood tide, the date of their first appearance varying with that of the opening of spring. 

 They remain in the vicinity of the inlets and sounds on the coast of North Carolina nntil about 

 May, when they gradually proceed northward, extending their jpnrney as far as the shores of Long 

 Island, where a few only are taken, although, perhaps, their number may be considerable. They 

 reappear on the coast of North Carolina in September, and thence proceed south, following the 

 same course as that by which they came, but leaving on the ebb instead of the flood tide. They 

 are found in the winter as far south as Saint Augustine, and possibly below this point, although 

 we have no positive assurance of this fact. 



At present they are thought to be more abundant than any other fish on the Carolina coast, 

 with the exception of the mullet, having increased in numbers very largely (at least twofold) 

 within the last ten years, possibly in consequence of the intermission of capture during the war. 

 The average length is about eighteen inches, with a weight of two pounds, although they are not 

 unfrequently found three feet in length and ten pounds' weight. They are often found outside of 



