FISHES OF THE ALBEMARLE REGION. 
191 
8. Notemigonus chrysoleucus (Mitcliill). Sliiner; Shiner sunfish; Roach. ( a , h, c, cl.) Everywhere 
abundant. Said to be the principal food of the black bass. The largest specimen obtained 
was 7f inches long and was a female in condition to spawn; the ventral fins were uniformly 
crimson in color, the anal dull orange at base, with a black margin. In other examples the 
fins are yellowish. Dorsal, 7 or 8; anal, 14 or 15; scales, 10-45-3 to 10-50-3. 
9. Clupea pseudoharengus Wilson. Goggle-eye. ( a,h,c .) Less numerous at this time than the fol- 
lowing species and occurring in smaller schools. Two specimens 2) and 44,- inches long, 
respectively, were seined in Newbegun Creek. 
10 . Clupea aestivalis Mitchill. Herring, (a, h, c.) Adults and young very abundant. Numerous 
specimens about 1| inches long were taken in Davis Bay and Newbegun Creek, April 8. These 
in life were transparent, with the back, dorsal and caudal fins, anal base, and muzzle covered 
with fine black spots ; head, 31 ; depth, 4-j- ; eye, 3 ; dorsal, 16 ; anal, 19. As the adult fish had 
just begun to enter the Pasquotank to spawn, the presence of such young individuals, having 
the appearance offish about 3 months old, was very unexpected. The explanation of their 
occurrence seems to be that in all probability a school of spawning fish entered Albemarle 
Sound late in the fall of 1891 and the young fish remained in the region through the winter. 
11 . Clupea sapidissima Wilson. Shad, (c.) In 1892, after the shad had entered Albemarle Sound, 
a protracted period of unfavorable weather, consisting of cold northerly and easterly winds, 
kept them out of the rivers on the northern side of the sound, and up to April 7 the run had 
not begun in the Pasquotank, although the fish were daily expected, the waters of the 
sound being reported as teeming with them. In Newbegun Creek one adult male, a “ fore- 
runner” of the fishermen, was taken April 8. Shad have been known to spawn in the strong- 
juniper and cypress water of the upper course of the river. 
12 . Brevoortia tyrannus (Latrobe). Fathack. (a.) Small bodies of adult menhaden occasionally 
ascend the Pasquotank River to Elizabeth City, and schools of young fish are also observed ; 
this is usually during a period of dry weather, when the water of Albemarle Sound becomes 
brackish. This habit of the fish of ascending fresh-water streams has also been observed iu 
the Potomac River. In 1892, at the shad-hatching station of the U. S. Fish Commission, 
about 15 miles below Washington, numerous young specimens about 4 inches long were 
taken early in June and 2 adults were secured in the seine in May. The water here is rarely 
brackish and at these times was quite fresh. 
13 . Dorosoma cepedianum (Le Sueur). Nanny shad; Mud shad, (a, l>, c.) Specimens from 3 to 6 
inches long extremely common ; adults also numerous. Young examples from the Pasquo- 
tank River near Elizabeth City have the dorsal and caudal uniformly dusky and the 
pectorals, ventrals, and anal with dark edges; specimens from Davis Bay and Newbegun 
Creek have the lower fins white, The dark spot on the shoulder of immature individuals 
is lustrous purple in life. 
14 . Fundulus diaphanus (Le Sueur), (a, h, c .) Numerous small specimens obtained, the largest 21- 
inches long. Very abundant in Newbegun Creek. Two males 2-f inches in length from 
Davis Bay are marked by about 21 dark transverse stripes, alternating with silvery ones ; the 
dorsal is distinctly mottled with dark and white spots ; the lower fins in one specimen are 
bright yellow, in the other white; head, 34; depth, 44; eye in head, 34; dorsal, 14; anal, 
11 and 13 ; scales, 45-18 and 45-20 ; scales before dorsal, 21 and 22. 
15 . Gambusia patruelis (Baird & Girard). (6, c, d.) Exceedingly common. The fish occurring in 
ditches and drains are very pale and show no trace of a dark bar or spot below the orbit. 
Specimens from the colored waters of the river and Newbegun Creek are dark greenish- 
brown and have a distinct purple bar beneath the eye. The proportion of males to females 
is as 1 to 3. Ova at this time not in an advanced state of development. 
16 . Lucius reticulatus (Le Sueur). Pike, (a, c.) Common. Often taken by the commercial fisher- 
men, especially in creeks and bayous. Examples from 8 to 18 inches long observed, feeding 
largely on alewives at this time. 
17 . Anguilla chrysypa Rafinesque. Eel. (a, 6, c.) Taken at almost every haul of the seine. 
Specimens from 2 inches to 2 feet in length observed. 
18 . Tylosurus marinus (Bloch & Schneider). Green gar. (c.) Not rare in the lower river. A speci- 
men obtained at Newbegun Creek was 18 inches long, which is the usual size observed. 
The negro fishermen are fond of this fish and consider its flesh good. 
