314 



FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1908. 



inches in length, and 1 to 2 pounds in weight. Other species found 

 on our eastern coast are the "old-wife," or " gaff- topsail pompano ; " 

 the "round pompano," or "Indian River permit;" the "permit" 

 or "great pompano, " which is frequently not distinguished from the 

 "common pompano" ( T. carolinus) by the fishermen. The poppy- 

 fish {Palometa simillima) is miscalled the "California pompano." 

 It is a delicate food fish. 



Porgee, or Porgy. — A name given to the surf-fish (Damalichthys 

 argyrosomus) in Oregon and Washington; to the moonfish (Chxtodip- 

 terus faber) at Beaufort, N. O; to the scup (Stenotomus chrysops) in 

 New York and along the southern coast; to the sailor's choice (Lago- 

 don rhomboides) in the St. Johns River and at Cedar Keys; and to 

 several sparoids of the Gulf. 



Pork-fish (Anisotremus virginicus). — See Grunt. 



Porpoise (Phocsena communis). — A cetacean found on the north 

 Atlantic and north Pacific coasts, ascending rivers. It is known as 

 "harbor porpoise," "herring-hog," "puffer," "snuffer," "snuffing 

 pig," etc. It reaches a length of 4 or 5 feet. They are captured in 

 pounds, seines, and mackerel gill nets. They are not used for food, 

 but an oil is obtained from their jaws which is much used for me- 

 chanical purposes. The skin is tanned and made into leather. The 

 name is also applied rather indiscriminately to many dolphins. 



Prawn. — See Shrimp. 



Pumpkin-seed. — A name applied to the sunfish (Eupomotis gib- 

 bosus) of the brooks of New York and New England, and to the 

 butterfish (Poronotus triacanthus) in Connecticut. 



Quahaug ( Venus mercenaria) . — An edible clam, found very abun- 

 dantly from Cape Cod to Florida. It is also called "hard clam," 

 ' ' round clam, " " bull-nose, " " little neck, ' ' etc . They are gathered 

 by raking. 



Queen-fish (Seriphus politus), — A small food fish of excellent 

 quality found on the Pacific coast south of Tomales Bay. It is also 

 called "kingfish." The average weight is about half a pound. 



Quill-back. — A sucker (Ictiobus velifer) found abundantly in the 

 Mississippi Valley. 



Quinnat (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) . — The species of the salmon 

 family mostly used for canning. It is found on the Pacific coast 

 from Monterey northward. It is also called "chinook salmon," 

 "king salmon," "Columbia River salmon," "salmon," etc. The 

 average weight is 16 to 22 pounds. 



Racer. — A shad that has spawned and is lean and worthless. 



Ray (Raix). — A general name given to a large group of fishes found 

 on all our coasts. They are also called "skates," "torpedoes," 

 "devil-fishes," etc. They sometimes attain an enormous size, 

 measuring 3 feet across the back and 10 feet in length. They are 

 caught on trawls and in seines, and some are used for food; oil is 

 obtained from the livers of some, and the skin is sometimes manufac- 

 tured into leather called "shagreen." 



Razor-shell (Ensis directus). — A long, slender clam which is a 

 common inhabitant of sand bars and sand flats in New England 

 where the water is pure. It is also called "razor-fish," "razor- 

 clam," "knife-handle," etc. Itis sometimes used for food, and its 

 shells are sold for ornaments. The California razor-shell is a differ- 

 ent species (Solen sicarius). 



Red drum. — The redfish (Scixnops ocellatus). Also known as 

 "channel-bass." 



Red-eye. — See Rock bass and Warmouth. 



Redfin. — A name applied to the common shiner (Notropis cor^ 

 nutus) . 



Redfish (Scixnops ocellatus). — 1. A much-esteemed food fish 

 found on the coast from Cape Cod to the Rio Grande. It is com- 

 monly known as the "red drum." In Chesapeake Bay and south 

 to Cape Hatteras it is called the "drum; " in the Carolinas, Florida, 

 and the Gulf, "bass," "spotted bass," "red bass," "sea bass," 

 "reef bass," and "channel bass;" in Florida and the Gulf states, 

 "redfish" and "red horse;" and at various places, "spot." It grows 

 to a length of 5 feet or more and a weight of 75 pounds; average 

 weight, 10 pounds. They are taken with spears, gill nets, and 

 bottom lines. 



2. The redfish of California (Pimelometopon pulcher) is found from 

 Point Conception to Cerros Island. It is also called "fat-head " and 

 "sheepshead." It reaches a weight of 12 to 15 pounds, but is not a 

 valuable food fish. 



3. The blueback salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) is also called "red- 

 fish " in the upper Columbia and in Alaska. 



4. The redfish (Sebastodes melanops). A food fish found from 

 southeastern Alaska to California. It is also known as "red cod," 

 "red rockfish," etc. See Rockfish. 



Red horse. — 1. A name applied to several species of suckers 

 found in the waters of the West and South. They are all poor food 

 fishes. 



2. The redfish (Scixnops ocellatus) of Florida and the Gulf. 



Red snapper (Lutianus aya). — A valuable food fish found off the 

 Florida coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. It attains a weight of 40 

 pounds, but averages only about half as much. It is caught with 

 hand lines, and is sold fresh. 



Roach (Semotilus corporalis) .—The largest chub found east of the 

 Rocky Mountains. It is abundant in the streams of the New Eng- 

 land and Middle states east of the Alleghenies. Also called "fall- 

 fish," "chub," "dace," etc. It reaches a length of 18 inches, but is 

 of no special importance as a food fish. A local name for the spot 

 (Leiostomus xanthurus) in the Chesapeake region. 



Robin. — A name applied to the sailor's choice (Lagodon rhom- 

 boides) about Cape Hatteras. 



Rock. — See Striped bass. 



Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris). — A small food fish everywhere 

 abundant in lakes, ponds, and larger streams throughout the Great 

 Lakes region and the Mississippi Valley. It is called "rock bass" 

 in the Lake region and "goggle-eye" and "red-eye" farther south. 

 It seldom exceeds 1J pounds in weight. The name is also given to 

 the sea bass (Centropistes striatus) at New Bedford, Mass., and to 

 several other serranoid fishes of the Pacific coast. 



Rock cod. — See Rockfish. 



Rockfish (Scorpxnidx). — These fish are caught in enormous 

 quantities on the Pacific coast, especially from Santa Barbara to 

 San Francisco. There are a large number of species, known to the 

 fishermen as " priest fish, " "rock cod," and "rockfish," with many 

 qualifying prefixes, as "black," "black-banded," "brown," 

 "grass," "green," "orange," "red," "yellow," "yellow-backed," 

 "yellowtail," etc.; also called "garrupa," "grouper," "scorpene," 

 "sculpin," "scorpion," "tree-fish," "flyfish," "corsair," "Spanish 

 flag," "reina," "blackbass," "jack," "tomcod," "boccaccio,"etc. 

 They average 15 inches in length and 2 or 3 pounds in weight, but 

 some reach a length of 3 feet and a weight of 12 pounds. They are 

 caught in seines and with hook and line. The name is also applied 

 to the striped bass (Roccus lineatus) along the Atlantic coast ; to the 

 groupers (Epinephelus) about Key West and in the Gulf of Mexico; 

 to the log perch (Percina caprodes) . 



Rock trout (Hexagrammos) . — A group of fishes of considerable 

 importance on the Pacific coast. They are the true greenlings. 

 The different species are known as "sea trout," "starling," "bore- 

 gata," "bodieron," "red rock trout," etc. The size varies greatly, 

 the average being 18 inches long and 2J pounds in weight. 



Roncador (Roncador stearnsi). — A food fish of excellent quality, 

 found from Santa Barbara southward; also called "croaker." It 

 reaches a length of over 2 feet and a weight of 6 to 8 pounds. Re- 

 lated species are known as "red roncador," "little roncador," 

 "yellow-finned roncador," etc. 



Rosefish (Sebastes marinus). — A brilliantly colored fish found off 

 the north Atlantic coast as far south as New York. It is also called 

 "red perch," "redfish," "Norway haddock," "snapper," "hem- 

 durgan," "bream," etc. The average length is about 12 inches; 

 average weight, 1| pounds. It is caught on trawl lines. 



Round robin (Decapterus punctatus). — A food fish found along 

 the coast from the Gulf to Woods Hole. It is also called "cigar- 

 fish " and "scad." It reaches a length of 12 inches. 



Rudder-fish (Kyphoses sectatrix). — A small fish abundant about 

 Key West. The banded rudder-fish (Seriola zonata) is found from 

 Cape Cod to Florida. 



