316 



FISHES OF NOBTH CAROLINA. 



Genus LEIOSTOHUS Lac€p&de. Spots. 



This genus, which contains only 1 known species, is characterized by a 

 comparatively short, elevated, compressed body, with short, obtuse head, small 

 mouth, rounded snout, toothless lower jaw, entire preopercular margin, con- 

 tinuous dorsal fins, the anterior high and with 10 spines, and short gill-rakers. 

 {Leiostomus, smooth mouth.) 



'Spot'' 



274. LEIOSTOMUS XANTHURUS Lac6p6de. 

 "Jimmy"; Chub (S. O.); Roach (Va.); Goody; Lafayette. 



Leiostomus zanihurus Lac^pfede, Hiatoire Naturelle des Poissons, iv, 439, pi. 10, fig. 1, 1802; Carolina. Yarrow, 

 1877, 210; Beaufort. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 377; Beaufort. Jordan, 1886, 28; Beaufort. Earll, 1887, 

 486, 493; Beaufort region and coast near Wilmington Jenkins, 1887, 90; Beaufort. Jordan & Ever- 

 mann, 1898, 1458, pi. ccxxiii, fig. 569. Linton, 1905, 391; Bea<ifort. 



Leiostomus obliquus, Yarrow, 1877, 210; Beaufort. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 377; Beaufort. 





Fig. 141. Spot. Leiostomus xanthurus. 



Diagnosis. — Back elevated, much compressed in front of dorsal, depth .33 length; head 

 contained about 3.5 times in total length; snout blunt, contained about 3.5 times in head; 

 mouth small, horizontal, slightly inferior, maxillary extending to pupil; eye shorter than snout, 

 about .25 length of head; gill-rakers short and slender, about 30 in number, 22 below angle; 

 scales strongly ctenoid, number in lateral series 60 to 70, in transverse series about 20; dorsal 

 rays x+ 1,30 (to 32), the longest spine (third) .66 length of head; soft dorsal with a sheath of 

 scales along its base; anal rays ii,12; pectorals as long as head; ventrals .33 shorter; caudal 

 slightly forked. Color; bluish gray above, silvery below; back and sides with 12 to 15 narrow 

 bronze or yellow bands extending obliquely downward and forward; a round bronze or yellow 

 spot on shoulder; fins pale yellow, the soft dorsal with a row of pale blue spots involving only 

 the membranes, the caudal margin black, (xanthurus, yellow-tailed.) 



The spot, which gets its name from the round mark on its shoulder, inhabits 

 the east coast of the United States from Massachusetts to Texas, and is one of 

 the most abundant and best known of our food fishes. It abounds in the 

 sounds and other coastal waters of North Carolina, and often enters water that 

 is perfectly fresh. In spring, during the shad fishery, it is found throughout 



