3o8 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



an object of sport to the river angler. Although they sometimes 

 exceed a foot in length they generally run smaller and are there- 

 fore used more as a pan-fish. They become landlocked in ponds 

 and are said to be much darker in color in such places. 



.Morone americana Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 806. — Abbott, 

 Am. Nat., IV, 1870, p. 104. — Abbott, Rep. U. S. F. Com., 1875- 

 y6, pp. 830, 835. 



Merone americana Verrill, Am. Nat., V, 1871, p. 398. 



Roccus americanus Abbott, Nat. Rambles, 1885, p. 477. — 

 Bean, Bull. U. S. F. Com., VII, 1887, p. 144. 



Labrax mucro7iatus Baird, 9th An. Rep. Smiths. Inst., 1854, 

 p. 322. 



Genus EpinephKi^us Bloch. 



The Groupers. 



Epinephelus morio (Valenciennes). 



Plate 50. 



Grouper. Red Grouper. 



From the other known species of this family on our coast 

 having a single dorsal fin this one may be identified by the pres- 

 ence of a supplemental maxillary and the inner depressible or 

 hinged teeth in the jaws. 



Dr. Abbott has 2 records for this species on our coast. It is a 

 most abundant and important food-fish in tropical America, 

 reaching a length of 3 feet. On our coast it is a straggler, most 

 likely in the Gulf Stream. 



Bpinephelus moris Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 806. 



Bpinephelus erythrogaster Abbott, 1. c. 



Genus Centropristks Cuvier. 



The Black Sea Bass. 

 Centropristes striatus (Linnaeus). 



Plate 51. 

 Black Sea Bass. Black Bass. Sea Bass. Black Fish. 



Head 2V7 ; depth 2V7 ; D- X, II, i; A. Ill, 6, i; scales 44 

 in lateral line to base of caudal, and 5 more on latter; 6 scales 



