198 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
FISHES OF THE ROANOKE RIVER. 
1. Acipenser sturio oxyrhynchus (Mitchill). Sturgeon, (a.) A specimen 114 inches long was seined. 
2 miles above Plymouth in the Roanoke River April 12. The fishermen at Plymouth report 
that young sturgeon of this size occur in the river as early as February and are taken in 
seines hauled for striped bass, hut the adult fish do not appear until the latter part of April, 
after the principal run of shad is over. 
2. Amia calva Linnaeus. Blackfisli. (a.) Not uncommon in the lower course of the river near Ply- 
mouth, but less numerous than in the sound. 
3. Ameiurus albidus (Le Sueur). Sound cat; River cat; Creek cat; Bull-head. ( a,b .) Very common; 
examples 5 or 6 inches long exceedingly numerous and taken in large quantities in haul 
seines and weirs near Plymouth. The large, milky-colored examples are known among the 
fishermen of the lower river as “sound cats” and “ bullheads,” while the small, dark-colored 
ones are called “river cats” and “ creek cats.” At Weldon the fish is also common, and, 
according to Mr. Worth, of the U. S. Fish Commission, is caught in large numbers by anglers. 
4. Ameiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur). Yellow cat. (a.) Less common than A. albidus, the proportional 
abundance being about as ten to one at this time. 
5. Moxostoma anisurum (Rafinesque). Sucking mullet, (a.) An example about 8 inches long is 
referred to this species. It agrees very closely with the description of M. velatum (Cope), 
as given in the “ Synopsis,” which Prof. Jordan refers to the synonymy of M. anisurum in 
the “Manual,” although the descriptions of M. anisurum in the “Synopsis” and the “Man- 
ual” are not applicable to the specimen under consideration. The body is rather stout, 
compressed, the back elevated, the depth in length. Head short, small, conic, broad 
and flat above, 4 in length. Mouth small, the lips plicate, the lower lip 4 -shaped. Muzzle 
truncate, overhanging mouth. Eye in middle of side of head, 4 in length, 4 in snout, 
in interorbital. Depth of cheek one-half length of head anterior to preopercle. Dorsal fin 
long, with 15 developed and 2 rudimentary rays, the height of first ray equal to length of 
base and five-sixths length of head, the free edge straight. Caudal lobes subequal. General 
color silvery, dusky above, whitish below. Dorsal and caudal membranes blackish, other fins 
plain. Scales 6-42-5. 
Although only one specimen was preserved, numerous examples were observed at the 
seining beaches near Plymouth. From the other sucker obtained in this river this species 
was easily distinguished hy the absence of dark spots at the bases of the scales and by hay- 
ing the dorsal margin straight. No individuals more than 10 inches long were noticed. 
This fish shares with theismall examples of M . crassilabre the name “sucking mullet.” 
6. Moxostoma crassilabre (Cope). Redhorse; Sucking mullet; Horsejish; Redfin; Mullet. ( a , b.) 
Very abundant in the lower river, where they are taken in numbers in the shad seines, 
the largest individuals having considerable market value. Examples from 8 to 20 inches 
long observed. At Plymouth the name “redhorse” is usually restricted to the largest 
specimens, the small ones heing called “sucking mullet.” At Weldon the names “mullet,” 
“redfin,” and “horsefish” are in use and are doubtless also applied to other suckers which 
were not detected in this inquiry. Two specimens from the Roanoke River near Plymouth 
are similar to the fish described from Edenton, but are smaller, being about 9 inches long. 
Head, 4|; depth, 31-; eye in head, 3$ and 4; dorsal, 12 and 13; scales, 6-42-5 and 6-44-5. 
General form very similar to the preceding. The square muzzle overhangs the rather large 
mouth, the lips of which are thick and strongly plicate, the lower truncate behind. 
Longest dorsal ray equals length of head and is a little longer than base of fin, the free 
margin rather deeply concave, but not falcate. The upper caudal lobe is somewhat the 
longer. Color in life, silvery, with pale pinkish or yellowish reflections, dusky above and 
whitish beneath. Above the lateral line nearly every scale has a dark brown spot a I the 
base of the exposed part, this marking being most distinct on the back. 'The dorsal and 
caudal fins have a dark interradial membrane ; the lower fins are pale reddish or orange. 
In larger individuals the coloration of the fins is more intense. In the uncertainty of the 
status of many species of Moxostoma from the South Atlantic States, the identification as 
M. crassilabre (Cope) of the small specimens at hand from the Roanoke River is not satis- 
factory and must be considered as only tentative. 
