THE FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



By HUGH M. SMITH, 

 Deputy U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries. 



INTRODUCTION. 



At the request of Professor J. A. Holmes, former director of the North Caro- 

 lina Geological and Economic Survey, the writer several years ago undertook the 

 preparation of a report which would serve as a popular guide to the fishes of 

 North Carolina. 



While it has been possible to devote to the preparation of this report only 

 such time as the writer could utilize outside of his regular duties, the task has 

 been made easier by the attitude of the Honorable George M. Bowers, U. S. 

 Commissioner of Fisheries, who has not only given the work his entire approval 

 but has provided many special facilities, in the belief that an increased knowl- 

 edge of and interest in the fishery resources and fisheries on the part of the peo- 

 ple of North Carolina, and a more intimate acquaintance with the habits, migra- 

 tions, spawning, growth and distribution of the local fishes, would greatly inure to 

 the benefit of the state, and at the same time promote the usefulness of the bio- 

 logical and hatching stations of the United States Bureau of Fisheries by creating 

 an intelligent sympathy with the work. The writer therefore desires to express 

 his special thanks to Commissioner Bowers for courtesies and assistance, which 

 have likewise been extended indirectly but no less effectively to the State of 

 North Carolina. 



Professor Holmes showed a very liberal spirit in planning for the scope, 

 illustration, and publication of this report, and has placed the writer under 

 great obligations, as has also Dr. Joseph Hyde Pratt, the present state geologist. 



It has been the special aim to make the report useful to all the fishing inter- 

 ests of the state. To this end, no essential technical considerations have been 

 slighted, but scientific treatment has been adapted to the needs of fishermen and 

 others who have had no opportunity to study ichthyology; and it is hoped and 

 believed that laymen generally will be able to make use of the work in the identi- 

 fication of species. 



While the very considerable amount of literature relating to the fishes and 

 fisheries of North Carolina has been freely utilized in the preparation of this 



