312 



FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1908. 



in California and Alaska. It is also known as the "sand eel" and 

 "sand-lance," because it frequently imbeds itself in the sand. The 

 average length is about 10 inches. 



' Ling. — A local name given to the hake ( Vrophyeis) in the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence and south of Cape Cod ; to the burbot (Lota maculosa) 

 in Lake Ontario, the lakes of western New York, and in the New 

 York market; to the mutton-fish (Zoarces anguillaris) in different 

 localities; to the cobia (Rachycentrom canadum) in western Florida; 

 and to the cultus cod (Ophiodon elongatus) about Puget Sound. 



Lobster (Homarus americanus). — A decapod crustacean of great 

 economic importance, found on the Atlantic coast from Delaware to 

 Labrador. It averages about 11 inches in length and about 2 pounds 

 in weight, but the size varies with localities and seasons. It is 

 caught in pots and traps especially constructed for this fishery. 



The "spiny lobster" of California and Florida is a different 

 species; it averages 3J pounds in weight. 



Loggerhead ( Thalassochelys caretta). — A turtle of small economic 

 value, found in the Atlantic as far north as Massachusetts and in the 

 Gulf of Mexico. It reaches a weight of 1,500 pounds, but those 

 taken average only about 50 pounds. They are caught by divers. 

 Only a small number are sold for food, as the flesh is not palatable, 

 but the eggs are highly esteemed. An inferior quality of oil is 

 obtained from this turtle. 



Lump-pish (Cyclopterus lumpus). — An unwieldy fish, widely dis- 

 tributed throughout the north Atlantic, ranging on the coast as far 

 south as Chesapeake Bay. The average weight is about 5 pounds. 

 It is of little economic value, but on account of its bright colors is 

 often found in the markets. 



Mackerel (Scomber scombrus). — A very important food fish, 

 found in the north Atlantic south to Cape Hatteras. They range 

 from 9 to 18 inches in length and $ to 3 pounds in weight, and are 

 caught in purse seines, pounds, weirs, gill nets, etc., and with hook 

 and line. They are sold fresh, salted, pickled, and canned, and are 

 sometimes used for bait. Small mackerel are known as "spikes" 

 (5 to 6 inches long), "blinkers" (7 to 8 inches long), and "tinkers" 

 (9 inches long). See Atka mackerel, Spanish mackerel, chub 

 mackerel, horse-mackerel. 



Mademoiselle. — See Yellowtail. 



Manatee (Trichechus latirostris) . — A sirenian found on the Florida 

 coast in very small numbers; also called "sea-cow." They are 

 from 6 to 8 feet long, and are caught in rope nets and with spears and 

 javelins. On account of their scarcity they have become very 

 valuable as specimens. They are also converted into food, oil, and 

 leather. 



Margate-fish (Hsemulon album). — A grunt found in southern 

 Florida; known also as "porgy," "market-fish," etc. The largest 

 measure about 16 inches in length. They are caught mostly for bait, 

 but in some places they are sold for food. 



Market-fish. — See Margate-fish. 



Marshbakker. — See Menhaden. 



Mattowacca (Dorosoma cepedianum). — A poor food fish found on 

 the Atlantic coast from Cape Cod to Florida, ascending rivers. It is 

 called "hickory shad" and "hicks," particularly in the South; 

 "tailor shad," "tailor herring," and "fresh-water tailor" in the 

 Potomac; and "forerunner" and "fall herring" in some rivers, in 

 allusion to the time of its run and that of the "white shad." It 

 averages 12 to 15 incheB in length and 2 to 3 pounds in weight. 



Medialvna (Medialuna calif orniensis). — An excellent food fish 

 found on the California coast south of Point Conception; also called 

 "half-moon." It reaches a weight of 3 or 4 pounds and a length of 

 about a foot. 



Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus). — A fish of the herring family, 

 found along the Atlantic seaboard from Maine to Florida, sometimes 

 as far inland as brackish water extends. It is known by a great 

 number of local names, the most common being "pogy," "hard- 

 head," "hard-head shad," "bony fish," "whitefish," "moss- 

 bunker," "bunker," "cheboy," "marshbanker," "alewife," "old- 

 wife," "ellwife," "pilcher," "green-tail," "bug-fish," "bug-shad," 



"bug-head," "fat-back," "yellowtail," "shiner," "herring," etc. 

 The average length is 10 to 12 inches; average weight two- thirds 

 of a pound to 1 pound. They are caught in purse seines, haul seines, 

 gill nets, set nets, and weirs. They are of economic importance 

 mainly for the oil and guano which are produced from them; they 

 are also used as bait for mackerel, cod, halibut, haddock, sea-bass, 

 etc. As a food fish they are sold fresh and salted and canned. "Fish- 

 meal," a food for domestic animals, is also made from them. An- 

 other species (B. patronus) is found on the Gulf coast. 



Menominee (Coregonus quadrilateralis). — See Whitefish. 



Merluccio ( Merluccius productus). — A poor food fish found on the 

 Pacific coast from Santa. Barbara northward. It is also called 

 "hake," "horse-mackerel," etc. It averages 5 to 6 pounds in 

 weight. 



Missouri sucker. — See Black horse. 



Moon-eye (Hiodon tergisus). — A beautiful fresh-water food fish 

 found in the Lake region and in the larger tributaries of the Missis- 

 sippi. It is also called "silver bass" and "toothed herring." It 

 weighs from 1 to 2 pounds, and is caught with hook and line and in 

 dip nets. Also a common name for the cisco (Argyrosomus hoyi) of 

 Lake Michigan. 



Moonfish (Chxtodipterusfaber). — A food fish caught on the At- 

 lantic coast from Woods Hole southward, in the Gulf of Mexico, and 

 on the California coast. In the northern parts of the Gulf of Mexico 

 it is called "spadefish;" from Florida to Charleston "angel-fish;" 

 and at Beaufort, N. C, "porgee" and "pogy." The average length 

 is not more than 8 inches. A local name for the blunt-nosed shiner 

 (Selene vomer) in North Carolina and Florida. 



Mossbunker. — See Menhaden. 



Mullet (Mugil cephalus and M. curema). — Two species of mullet 

 are found on the Atlantic coast, known as the "striped mullet" and 

 the "white mullet." The former is the larger and has 8 instead of 

 9 rays in the anal fin and 42 instead of 38 scales between the gill 

 openings and base of the caudal fin. The "striped mullet" is found 

 on the Atlantic coast from Cape Cod to Brazil and on the coast of 

 southern California, ascending streams; the "white mullet," from 

 Cape Cod southward. Local names are "bluefish mummichog," 

 "jumping mullet," "sand mullet," fat-back," "silver mullet," 

 "big-eyed mullet," "blue-back mullet," "liza," or "josea." 

 M. cephalus is the most important of all the food fishes of the South, 

 and greatly surpasses M. curema both in numbers and in economic 

 importance. It averages about 1 foot in length and 1 pound in. 

 weight, but sometimes reaches a weight of 4 to 5 pounds and a 

 length of 24 inches. It is caught in haul seines, gill nets, cast nets, 

 pound nets, etc., and is sold fresh and salted; the roe is also very 

 valuable food, and iB sold fresh, salted, smoked, and dried. 



For "black mullet," see King-fish; for "ground mullet," see 

 Whiting. Many suckers of the genus, Moxostoma are called "mul- 

 let," "white mullet," "sucking mullet," etc. 



Mummichog (Pceciliidx). — These fish are found in the brackish 

 waters along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts, near the mouths 

 of rivers, and in many of the fresh-water streams and lakes. Along 

 the eastern coast they are known as "mayfish," "killifish," and 

 "fundalus;" on the Gulf as "sac-a-lait;" and in the interior as 

 "minnows." They are all small fish, rarely exceeding 4 inches in 

 length. They are not commonly used for food, but are of much 

 importance as food for larger fish and for bait. 



Muskallunge (Esox masquinongy) . — A rare food fish found in the 

 Great Lakes and Northwest, sometimes appearing in the Ohio. The 

 average length is about 6 feet; average weight, 40 pounds. It is 

 caught in pound nets, with hook and line, and by trawling. Another 

 species (E. ohiensis) is abundant in Chautauqua Lake. 



Mussel (Mytilus edulis). — A black, thin-shelled, salt-water mol- 

 lusk, found on the Atlantic coast as far south as North Carolina and 

 on the Pacific coast to Monterey. They are not used extensively 

 for food, but in New York they are pickled and sold to a local trade. 

 The shells are used as a cultch for young oysters, for paint holders, 

 and for ornaments. Large quantities of another genus ( Modiola) are 



