SHARKS AND RAYS OF BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA. 257 



This species is easily recognized by the black-tipped fins. It is ferocious, very gamy, and not easily 

 captured when hooked. In the Beaufort region it is not common, although a number, ranging in length 

 from 59 to 17s cm., were taken in the summer of 1914. A male taken in the pound July 10, 1912,60 cm. in 

 length, weighed 1,280 g. From its stomach a menhaden (S. iyrannus) and a butterfish (P. alepidottis) 

 were taken. The sting of a sting-ray was found embedded in the skin under the jaw of a female 175 cm. 

 long. 



Under C. obscurus, Linton ( 1905, p. 339) lists a specimen captured by Coles, July 26, 1902, 6 feet in 

 length. He says; "It was a much cleaner-cut and more graceful shark than any other seen by me at 

 Beaufort. The tips of the pectorals were black, a character not noted in the others. * * * jjj-_ 

 Coles stated that the tips of all the fins of his specimen were black when it was first captured. He also 

 said that it was much more voracious and gamy than the others he had taken. " These characters agree 

 more closely with C. limbatus, the black tips of the fins and game qualities being characteristics of that 

 species. 



12. Carcharhinus milberti (MuUer and Henle). 



Carcharhinus milberti. Smith, 1907, p. 34 (in part). 



Teeth. — Teeth _ rows; upper teeth long, narrowly triangular, with serrate cutting edges; several 



rows at symphysis erect, cutting edges straight; toward the angles of the mouth the outline of the teeth 

 changes, the anterior margins from straight to convex, posterior margins from straight to concave to 

 slightly notched; teeth without distinct basal shoulder, except those at angles; a row of minute, finely 

 serrated teeth at symphysis; lower teeth erect, narrow cusped, with short but distinct basal shoulders; 

 cusps slender, subulate, finely serrate in small individuals, smooth, or with traces of serrations in larger 

 ones; basal shoulders smooth ; a row of minute, unserrated teeth at symphysis. 



In an example 182.9 <^™- l°ng the teeth in the frontof the upper jaware longer than broad, resembling 

 those of Carcharodon carcharias, but more finely serrated. 



Denticles. — The dermal denticles vary somewhat in outline with age. In a shark 54.6 cm. in length 

 they are small, 0.2 mm. long by 0.3 mm. broad, three-keeled, unequal in size, not close setand not over- 

 lapping; keels low, parallel, interspaces not deeply channeled; apical margin tnmcate, without or with 



Fig. 13. — Denticles, Carcharhinus viilberti, 81 cm. long, from Cape Lookout, N. C. 



only slightly projecting lobes; pedicel of medium size; base large, stellate. 



The extent of the area on sides of body below dorsal having this type of denticle varies in different 

 specimens and with age, being larger in small examples than in large ones. Outside this area the 



