192 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Caranx hippos. Crevallé; ‘ Trevallé.” 
Occurs abundantly in the lower Chesapeake, but is generally so small 
that when taken if is not utilized; it weighs less than half a pound. 
[t seems to enter the bay for the purpose of spawning, which takes place 
in midsummer. 
Roccus lineatus. Striped bass; “‘ Rock.” 
This valuable food-fish occurs regularly on this shore in March, April, 
and May, but is much less numerous than formerly. In 1890 the entire 
pound-net catch was only 15,512 pounds, valued at $566. Dr. John T. 
Wilkins states that this species was formerly very abundant in the 
lower bay, where it was taken by seine fishermen of the eastern shore 
and sent to Norfolk by the vessel load, selling for 25 to 50 cents a 
bushel. The yield was enormous; hauls of 200 to 400 bushels were 
often made, and an average catch for a 100-fathom seine was 40 bushels 
to each haul, from the last of March to the middle of May. About 
1855 the fish began to decrease, and have continued more or less scarce 
to the present time. Three sizes of fish are taken on this coast, to 
which the fishermen have applied different names. The smallest ones, 
called little rock, weigh 1 or 2 pounds; the next size, called chub rock, 
average 10 pounds in weight; the largest, or bass rock, range from 2 
to 60 pounds, averaging about 35 pounds. The run of the little rock 
precedes that of the others; it begins in March, and is soon joined by 
that of the-chub rock, the two sizes being found till about May 15. 
About May 10 the bass rock appear and continue running until June 1. 
Another short run occurs in September and October, but few fish are 
then taken. 
Cheetodipterus faber. ‘Porgy’; “ Moonfish.” 
Weighs 34 to 4 pounds, and is-a food-fish of some value. It sells at 
10 cents each. Arrives in schools late in May, and is most numerous 
in June and July, when most of the fish arecaught. It usually remains 
in the bay until the latter part of September. In 1889 six nets took 
1,164 of these fish, 1 being caught in May, 891 in June, and 272 in- 
July. The following year the fish were comparatively scarce, and only 
111 were taken in the same nets. It is more abundant on the eastern 
side of this part of the bay than on the western shore, where the salinity 
of the water is reduced by a large volume of fresh water brought down 
by the rivers. The following interesting account of the spawning con- 
ditions, eggs, etc., of this fish in this part of the Chesapeake Bay is 
from an unpublished article by Mr. R. Edward Earll: 
Porgies seem to visit Chesapeake Bay for the purpose of spawning. When they 
first arrive the ovaries and spermaries are well advanced, and soon individuals may 
be found with the eggs and milt running freely from them. On June 3 several 
females were seen at New Point, Va., with eggs nearly ripe, while ripe males were very 
abundant. June 28 ripe fish of both sexes were found at Crisfield, Md., and eges 
were taken from several females and impregnated, after which they were confined 
in floating boxes having wire-cloth bottoms, which had been placed in the water of 
