REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCIAENIDAE 
71 
genus. Southward it probably extends further than that of saxatilis and equally 
as far as americanus. This species as a whole is of much less commercial importance 
than the others. At Beaufort it is much less numerous than americanus and about 
equally as common as saxatilis, its commercial value being small. This species 
evidently seldom enters Beaufort Inlet, as only one record (Bird Shoal, 1906) of its 
capture in the inside waters is at hand. The writers did not find it in the more or 
less enclosed waters of the vicinity. The young, ranging upward of about 15 milli- 
meters, are common during the summer in the surf along the outer shores of the 
“banks” where they may be taken with small collecting seines in company with 
young pompano, spot, and occasionally with its congener, saxatilis. 
SPAWNING 
Smith (1907, p. 324) says, “At Cape Lookout spawning fish were found by the 
writer in June, and at Beaufort ripe eggs have been taken on several occasions be tween 
June 1 and 10.” Unfortunately, the eggs are not described. If the eggs were taken 
in the tow during the present investigation, they were not recognized, and ripe fish 
were not seen. Neither did the larvae appear in the tow. The smallest specimens 
secured are 9 and 10 millimeters long, and were taken on June 20 (1932) with a 
bobbinet seine in the surf on Bogue Banks, opposite Fort Macon. Fish ranging 
from 15 to about 120 millimeters long are abundant there throughout the summer. 
Some of the fish taken in June that certainly belonged to the 0-class had attained a 
length as great as 75 to 80 millimeters. Examples evidently of the 0-class, caught 
during July, ranged from 1 1 to 58 millimeters (the larger individuals of the class being 
missing), those taken during August ranged from 15 to 98 millimeters, and those 
caught in September from 15 to 120 millimeters. 
A collection made on June 10 includes specimens 53 to 57 millimeters long, and one 
made on June 20 contains specimens 75 to 80 millimeters long. It seems reasonable 
to assume that these rather large, well-developed specimens are 6 to 8 weeks old. If 
that be true then spawning probably begins not later than the 1st of May. Young 
only 15 millimeters long were taken as late as September 14. Fish of such a size 
probably were hatched in August. Although these data are not as complete as 
desirable, they do indicate rather strongly that spawning begins not later than the 
1st of May and that it continues into August. 
Although the eggs and small fry under 9 millimeters in length were not taken, 
it seems almost certain that spawning occurs only in the open outside waters. This 
conclusion is arrived at for the reason that the adults rarely enter the inside waters 
about Beaufort and, furthermore, the young of 9 millimeters and upward in length 
were found only in the surf. 
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE YOUNG 
Specimens 10 millimeters long. — The body is quite elongate, compressed, the 
greatest depth being contained about 3.6 to 4.0 in the length to base of caudal fin. 
The head is rather broad, more or less quadrate in cross section. Its width is equal 
to about three fourths its depth, and its length is somewhat greater than the depth 
of the body, being contained about 3.2 in the length to base of caudal. The inter- 
orbital is rather flat and broad. The eye is longer than the snout, and it has a very 
small, vertically slightly elongate pupil. The mouth is moderately large and oblique, 
the upper lip anteriorly is about on a level with the lower margin of the eye, and the 
57094—34 3 
