SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OP FISHES. 373 



322. OPSAlSrUS TAU (Linnseus). 



"Toad-fish"; "Toad"; "Rook-toad"; Oyster-fish. 



Gadus tau Linnseus, Systema Naturee, ed. xii, 440, 1766; Carolina. 



Batrachus tau, Yarrow, 1877, 206; Beaufort. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 372; Beaufort, Jordan, 1886, 28; 



Beaufort. Jenkins, 1887, .91; Beaufort. Wilaon, 1900, 355; Beaufort. 

 Opjoniis (ou, Jordan & Evermann, 1898, 2315. Linton, 1905, 406; Beaufort. 



Diagnosis. — ^Depth somewhat more than .2 length; head broad, .37 length: jaws very 

 strong, the teeth smaller anteriorly; end of upper jaw and under side of lower jaw with large 

 flaps; smaller flaps on preopercle; diameter of eye eqOal to length of snout and interorbital 

 space; dorsal rays iii + 24; anal rays 24. Color: back, sides, and head dull greenish or 

 brownish, with profuse black markings which run together on sides and form irregular bars; 

 belly and under sides of head dirty yellowish, sometimes dark spotted; numerous small, pale 

 yellow or whitish spots on sides; soft dorsal and anal fins with 5 to 9 oblique irregular black 

 bands; caudal, pectorals, and ventrals with 5 to 7 similar but more sharply-defined cross bands. 

 (tau,ihe Greek letter t; in allusion to the shape of bones on top of head when dried.) 



Fig. 171. Toad-fish. Opsanus tau. 



The toad-fish is one of the best known and least liked fishes along the coast 

 from Cape Cod to Florida. Its sluggish habits, repulsive appearance, ability to 

 inflict a painful wound with its powerful jaws, and its uselessness are sufficient to 

 condemn it in the estimation of most people. It is abundant along the shores of 

 North Carolina, and is called "toad", "toad-fish", and "rock-toad" by the 

 fishermen. It is frequently caught in nets and is also taken with hook-and-line 

 in still-fishing, especially on oysters bars or broken bottoms. The maximum 

 length is 15 inches, but the species reaches sexual maturity when 6 or 7 inches 

 long. On March 26, 1904, a specimen 1.37 inches long was seined at Beaufort. 

 Owing to its extreme ugliness, the toad-fish is rarely eaten; the flesh is well flav- 

 ored, however. 



The breeding habits of the species are very interesting. The eggs are laid in 

 summer, and are attached in a single layer to the under side of rocks or the 

 inside of tin cans, oyster shells, etc. Fof some time after hatching the young 

 remain attached by means of a special sucking disk. Yarrow (1877) notes that 

 at Beaufort "in April, 1871, a female was discovered watching her eggs, which 

 had been deposited in an old boot-leg; the tide had receded, leaving her in about 

 4 inches of water, and, although attempts were made to drive her away, she pre- 

 ferred to remain and was consequently captured". 



