FOURTEEN TELEOSTEAN FISHES AT BEAUFORT, N. C. 411 
FOOD 
Young pigfish, 12 to 25 millimeters in length (smaller ones not examined), 
according to the contents of 14 stomachs, feed almost wholly on copepods supple- 
mented occasionally by a few ostracods. Somewhat larger fish, ranging from 25 
to 35 millimeters in length, as indicated by the contents of 29 stomachs, still feed 
chiefly on copepods and sparingly on ostracods. This diet is now strongly supple- 
mented, however, by minute gastropods. When the fish attain a length of 40 to 
100 millimeters, according to the contents of 55 stomachs, they feed on larger crus- 
taceans, such as amphipods, small shrimp, and crabs; and they take larger gastropods, 
also bivalve mollusks; they add worms in considerable quantity and also a few 
small fish. 
The diet does not change greatly after the fish reaches a length of 100 milli- 
meters, although larger representatives of the classes of foods mentioned are taken. 
In the examination of 108 stomachs of adult fish, crustaceans, including principally 
amphipods, shrimps, and crabs, were found 78 times; mollusks, principally bivalves 
with razor clams in the majority, were found 63 times; worms, 36 times; and star- 
fish, 9 times. The wormlike cordate, Balanoglossus, which scents the flesh and gives 
it an unpleasant flavor, as pointed out elsewhere, was found only once. 
The foods eaten by the pigfish, after it attains a length of about 40 millimeters, 
occur largely on the bottom only. The fish may be classed, therefore, as a bottom 
feeder, which includes in its diet such burrowing forms as Balanoglossus (found 
once) and Upogebia (found six times). The forms eaten, exclusive of a few shrimp 
and fish, are not utilized commercially. Furthermore, the pigfish utilizes mostly 
foods not entering into the diet of many of the other common local food fishes; 
and, therefore, it does not appear to be an important competitor. 
BAIRDIELLA CHRYSURA, Lacepede. White perch; sand perch 
The white perch occurs in the shore waters from Massachusetts to Texas, and 
it is very abundant from New Jersey to North Carolina. Although a fish of good 
flavor, it is not of much commercial value because of its small size. The maximum 
length attained is about 9% inches, and the greatest weight is close to 6 ounces. 
Only the largest individuals, 7% inches and over in length, are seen in the markets; 
and these constitute only a very small percentage of the catch, the rest frequently 
being wasted. The species is not marketed in sufficient abundance to be shipped 
separately, the small quantities that reach the markets being throwm in with "mixed 
fish.” For this reason this white perch, which must not be confused with the other 
white perch, Morone americana, is not listed in the statistical records of the Bureau 
of Fisheries. 
The white perch is present in the local waters throughout the year. It is most 
abundant during the summer and becomes scarce during the winter, particularly 
during cold snaps. The young, or smaller, individuals of this species, as in the 
spot and croaker (as pointed out in the sections of this paper dealing with those 
species) are the ones that remain in the shallow waters, whereas the large individuals 
are seldom seen during the winter. 
SPAWNING 
At Beaufort spawning takes place from near the end of April to the middle of 
July. In 1927, for example, the eggs were taken for the first time during the last 
week in April, and by the end of June they had become scarce. Kuntz (1914, p. 3) 
