296 



FISHES OP NORTH CAROLINA. 



258. STENOTOMUS CHRYSOPS (Linnseus). 



"Pin-fisli"; Scuppaug; Porgy (S. 0.); Soup; Fair Maid (Va.). 



Sparua chrysopa Linnseus, Systema Naturse, ed. xii, 471, 1766; Charleston. 

 S«enotomusorff!/rops, Yarrow, 1877, 210; Beaufort. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 379; Beaufort. 

 Stenotomus chryaopa, Jordan, 1886, 27; Beaufort. Jenkins, 1887, 90; Beaufort. Jordan & Evermann, 1898, 

 1346, pi. ccxi, fig. 544. 



Diagnosis. — Back arched, depth about .5 length; profile steep, nape convex, a depression 

 over eyes; head contained 3.5 times in total length; eye less than .25 length of h^ad; snout 4 

 length of head; incisors very narrow, lateral teeth (molars) in two rows in upper jaw; scales 

 in lateral series 50, in transverse series 25; dorsal rays xn,12, first spine about equal to eye, 

 third spine longest and half length of head; anal rays iii,ll, third spine longest; pectoral fin 

 1.5 times length of head; caudal fin forked. Color: silvery, often with irregular dark brown 

 cross bands under certain conditions; the young with well defined blackish cross bands, {chry- 

 sops, golden-eyed.) 





Fig. 132. ScTJp; Pin-pish. Stenotomus chrysops. 



This scup is found coastwise from Massachusetts to South Carolina and is 

 an abundant and important food fish in the northern part of its range, but on the 

 North Carolina coast is not particularly numerous and has no economic value, 

 being " hardly noticed by the fishermen' ' and at Beaufort not distinguished from 

 the southern scup, Stenotomus aculeatus. The species is known as "pin-fish", 

 which seems to be the only local name. The maximum weight is about 4 

 pounds, but the usual weight is a pound or less. The scup feeds on shrimp, small 

 crabs, and other crustaceans, mollusks, worms and small fish. It bites readily 

 at the hook baited with fish or crab, and is often a nuisance when a fisherman is 

 seeking other fish. The flesh is of excellent flavor. 



