FISHES OF THE ALBEMARLE REGION. 
193 
EDENTON BAY. 
Edenton Bay is a broad indentation lying east of the month of the Chowan River, 
from which it is separated by a large, swampy projection of land. It is about Si- 
miles long and 3 miles wide at its mouth. The town of Edenton is at its head; here 
two small creeks, arising in wooded swamps, How into the bay on either side of that 
place. The bay is an important fishing-ground for shad, alewives, striped bass, etc., 
and is resorted to by the fishermen of Edenton. The waters of this bay were exam- 
ined at the following points: 
(a) Edenton . — Collections were made at the month of a small creek entering the 
bay from the east. On the right bank of the creek there are wharves and fish-houses ; 
the refuse here thrown into the water attracts schools of small fish, such as minnows 
and silversides; also yellow and white perch, sunfish, etc. The shore of the creek 
opposite the town is low, partly wooded, and for the most part sandy; the bottom in 
places near the shore exhibited a sparse growth of Myriophyllum in small clusters, in 
which darters were found in considerable numbers. A fresh-water shrimp ( Palcemo - 
netes exilipes) was present in abundance, and numerous specimens of a crayfish ( Gam- 
barns blandingii) were taken. Temperature of water April 11, 56° F. 
( b ) Reedy Point. — This locality is at the western side of the mouth of the bay 
and is resorted to by the pound-net fishermen, from whom specimens were obtained. 
At the time of visit, shad, alewives, striped bass, catfish, flounders, perch, suckers, 
etc., were being taken. 
(c) SJcinner Point. — This is at the eastern side of the mouth of Edenton Bay and 
is the former site of an important steam-seine fishery. The shore here is high and 
sandy and is admirably adapted to seine fishing. A heavy wind rendered the water 
muddy and made collecting difficult, but a large number of specimens were neverthe- 
less secured. Temperature of water April 9, 64° F. 
(d) Cypress Swamp, near Edenton. — A small swamp southeast of Edenton drains 
into Edenton Bay by a shallow creek which crosses the road to Skinner Point about 
3 miles from Edenton. The water is colored a peculiar reddish-brown by the cypress 
and juniper trees in the swamp. The creek at this point appeared to contain Gambn- 
sia patruelis to the exclusion of almost every other species. Temperature of water 
April 9, 67° F. 
All the roadside ditches and drains teem with Gambusia , which may be said to be 
the characteristic fresh- water fish of this section. 
In the following list of fishes observed in Edenton Bay, the species occurring at 
the four stations mentioned are indicated by the letters {a, b, c, d) which precede the 
description of the places. 
FISHES OF EDENTON BAY. 
1. Acipenser sturio oxyrhynchus (Mitchill). Sturgeon. (6.) Caught in considerable numbers, but, 
is much less numerous than formerly and the demand is greater than ever before, owing to 
the market which lias been created for the roe. 
2. Amia calva Linmeus. Grindle; Blackfisli. (6.) Common in the sound, where it reaches a length of 
2 feet or more. The young fish are said to follow the female, as newly hatched chickens do 
a hen. 
3. Aineiurus albidus (Le Sueur). Black cat; White cat. (a, b.) Common. 
F. C. B. 1891 13 
