REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF 191 
pound. The monthly fluctuations in abundance are shown in the fol- _ 
lowing table, representing the catch of a part of the nets: 
FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Monthly pound-net catch of spotted squeteague in the vicinity of Cape Charles, Virginia. 
1889 
1890 
Month. (6 nets). | (5 nets). 
Pounds. | Pounds. 
APPTs cence cencencacaneaen S/s)aN's ais'a\A db a(a'n A nislaaslasaeepet naman (os 5-2 ce oe 70 
MUGAY sopeiceind ne sone ac Ss Sos Sapam see Src onPeporedeae ssobebd paseo sese 8, 138 
Ui )seccc0S 5+ sade te ap ce Se Domes tos Sone e sage ee Soe eee eeaneee 5, O10 10, 406 
UW hy ceeeckestiectestoader bee cps hepa sas Shee Se-ceesonsedoter 7, 636 29, 540 
DNTEWISN 2 Beco 2 6 9 eGo Renee Soc deta gaocee 5 Oa sinacsoe go- be sone 7, 438 25, 078 
SUP OUCHMLS PAS Sons ce BOSS Ree OO EOC CHUA Ses GSES ae eases 3, 343 8, 488 
(elig pene sects sete Stee poet tase cluold goes sis eens Sintivmel>s[~- 280 4, 696 
Motall see ekerh, evi aa eles Seer See Renee SOOM ae naa 23,707 | 86, 410 
Cynoscion regale. Weakfish; ‘Gray trout.” 
Unlike its congener, the spotted squeteague, the weakfish is found 
on this shore only early in the season, being very rarely taken after 
July. It would seem that coincident with the beginning of the largest 
catch of bluefish, there is a cessation in the run of weaktish. The fish 
have an average weight of 13 pounds, and, like bluefish, are mostly 
sold at $2 a bushel, which is equivalent to about 3 cents a pound. In 
1889 12,720 pounds were caught, and in 1890 19,800 pounds. The 
monthly yield of the nets for which detailed figures are available was 
as follows: 
Monthly pound-net catch of weakfish in Northampton County, Va. 
1889 1890 
Month. (6 nets). | (5 nets). 
| Pounds. | Pownds. 
LVR Soe ee eee EAS a tae eA Pe aa eat I 1, 313 1, 626 
TUG. GSAS S Beane: Tie ae eer: eae | Lee eee ee 4, 128 5, 482 
Willy) cdSek Peo Ge beds ced odds doce Heer ooseEe ee Sapper ec nearer 1, 738 2, 022 
“TERA ce oes ee Pee A a ee i i Re SUED 7,179 9,130 |-- 
Blacate canada. Cobia; ‘‘ Bonito”; “ Coalfish.” 
Most common in June, and probably more numerous on the eastern 
shore of Virginia than elsewhere in. the Chesapeake. The fish taken 
weigh about 20 pounds on an average and sell for 25 cents each. Next 
to the sturgeon this is the largest food-fish occurring regularly in the 
bay; it reaches a weight of 150 pounds. 
Trachynotus carolinus. ‘‘ Pompano”; ‘ Sunfish.” 
Weighs about 1} pounds and sells at 12) cents each. Occurs spar- 
ingly between May and September. During some seasons it becomes 
very abundant. The fish doubtless spawns in the Chesapeake, as ripe 
fish have been found in June. 
