WEAKFISHES 
83 
limbs of the first arch enumerated separately being 5 + 12. The tendency to fewer gill 
rakers with increase in the size of the fish is not as marked as in the following species. 
The caudal is emarginate in specimens over 300 millimeters total length, the change 
from a biconcave to an emarginate condition taking place when the fish reaches a 
total length of approximately 250 to 300 millimeters. Leastr depth of caudal peduncle 
in grown individuals usually greater than length of snout, 1.39 to 1.66 in maxillary. 
Dorsal soft rays have a modal number of 27 (84), the next highest class being 28 (63), 
frequently 26 (26) or 29 (11), infrequently 25 (5). Color, upper two thirds of body 
with rather small irregular pigment spots without sharply defined borders, many of 
the spots contiguous or coalescent, forming irregular oblique or longitudinal streaks. 
This typical coloration frequently faint in preserved specimens, especially in the 
smaller individuals. Lower third of body plain silvery gray, sometimes somewhat 
irridescent. Fins usually pale, without well defined spots, sometimes a few faint 
spots on caudal, near its base only. 
Geographical distribution. — Atlantic coast of the United States from Massachu- 
setts Bay to the east coast of Florida. Occurs also occasionally in the Gulf of Maine. 
Figure 6 .—Cynoscion regalis (Bloch and Schneider). Gray squeteague. Drawn by Louelle E. Cable from a specimen 
taken off North Carolina 
Specimens studied from Chesapeake Bay, the Carolinas, and Florida. This species 
is evidently confined to the Atlantic coast, fhe Gulf form being sufficiently distin- 
guished to be regarded as a distinct species or at least subspecies. 
Cynoscion arenarius 6 sp. nov. 
Common name. — Sand squeteague. 
Other common names. — Sand trout (Texas); white trout (Pensacola). 
Otholitus thalassinus Gunther (not Holbrook), Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 2, 
1860, p. 308. 
Cynoscion nothus Goode and Bean (not Holbrook), Proc., U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 2, 
1879, p. 131. 
« An unbiased study of the data here presented shows, X believe, that there is room for difference of opinion as to the degree 
of difference between this form and ragalis from the Atlantic coast — whether they should be regarded as species or as subspecies. 
I am personally averse to the use of trinomials because, first, for practical reasons such names are clumsy, and, second, even on 
theoretical grounds, in a consideration of the larger problems of descent, the use of trinomials is not of great help, since our under- 
standing of the mechanism and methods of descent are too hazy, uncertain, and controversial at the present time, and the mere 
bestowal of a trinomial on any taxonomic unit does not help to elucidate these problems. Under the circumstances, therefore, it 
seems that the matter of expediency should be given consideration and the name be merely regarded as a convenient handle in 
discussing the particular form, in which case simplicity is desirable. 
