SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 275 



pounds. In Lake Mattamuskeet it is very numerous, attains a large size, and is 

 the most highly prized and important fish there found. In New, Neuse, and 

 other rivers of the southern part of the state the fish also abounds. 



The spawning season in Albemarle Sound begins between April 1 and 10 and 

 continues for about 10 days. At that time there may be observed in the sound 

 and its tributaries large numbers of white perch 2 to 3 inches long and doubtless a 

 year old, which mix freely with the schools of minnows, silversides, and mullets. 



The white perch feeds on minnows, shrimps, and other animals. It is one 

 of the best of American game fishes, and is a favorite with anglers; it takes the 

 artificial fiy readily, and also bites at minnows, worms, etc. As a pan fish it has 

 few superiors, and is by many persons preferred to any other species. 



The annual catch of white perch in North Carolina in recent years has been 

 about a million pounds. In 1902 the fishermen sold 941,000 pounds and received 

 $62,666 therefor, most of this yield coming from the seine and pound-net fisheries, 

 and nearly half of it being credited to Currituck Sound. 



Genus EPINEPHELUS Bloch. Groupers. 



A numerous genus of large marine food-fishes, inhabiting tropical and sub- 

 tropical waters; some of them of considerable economic value. Form rather 

 robust, compressed; mouth large, with a few large canine teeth in 'iront of jaws, 

 and with enlarged, depressible inner teeth in each jaw; maxillary large, supple- 

 mental bone well developed and scaly; preopercle serrate; opercle with strong 

 spines; gill-rakers short and few; scales small, ctenoid, those of lateral line tri- 

 angular and cycloid; dorsal fins continuous, with 10 or 11 spines; anal spines 3, the 

 second usually largest; caudal fin concave or rounded; pectorals rounded, short; 

 ventrals close together, with a strong spine. Of the 12 or more American 

 species, 7 are known from the south Atlantic coast of the United States, and of 

 these the following have been detected in North CaroUna: 



i. Caudal fin rotinded; second dorsal spine shorter than third or fourth; scales in lateral line 

 110 to 125; body marked by irregular dark cross-bars; vertical fins edged with yellow. 



striiiivs. 



a. Caudal fin concave; second dorsal spine as long as third or fourth; scales in lateral line 130 

 to 140; body without cross-bars; vertical fins edged with blue-black morio. 



(Epinephelus, clouded over, in allusion to a membrane supposed to cover the 

 eye.) 



240. EPINEPHELUS STRIATUS (Bloch). 



Nassau Grouper; Hamlet. 



Anthias atriatus Bloch, lohthyologie, ix, 109, pi. 324, 1792; Martinique. 

 Epinephelus atriatus, Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 1157, pi. clxxxiii, fig. 483. 



Diagnosis. — ^Form deep, slightly compressed, depth contained 2.8 times in total length; 

 head pointed, contained about 2.5 times in length; mouth moderate, maxillary extending to 

 posterior edge of eye; jaw teeth in bands, with 2 canines in front of each jaw; nostrils close 

 together, of nearly same size; interorbital space contained 8.5 times in length of head; giU- 

 rakers slender, 16 on lower arm of first arch; scales in lateral series 110 to 125, in transverse 

 series 60 to 70; dorsal rays xi,17; anal rays iii,8; ventrals short; pectorals long. Color: above 

 greenish gray, below paler; about 4 dark brown undulating cross-bars extending on dorsal 



