374 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
24. Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnseus). Bluefisli; Snapper; Snapping Mackerel; Mackerel. 
This is the most important marine species taken in the fisheries of New Jersey. 
In the line fisheries it is the principal fish, and larger quantities are taken with the hook 
than in all other ways. In the gill net fisheries it is also the chief product, and in the 
seine fisheries it ranks next to the squeteague. While important in the pound nets, 
it now has much less economic value than a number of other species. 
The well-known irregularity in movements and abundance to which the bluefisli 
is subject is often observed on this coast and was well illustrated by the pound-net 
catch in 1892. During the early part of the season the bluefisli was very scarce, and 
up to August 1 some of the nets had taken less than 100 pounds of the fish. There 
was a fair catch in August and October, but the total yearly yield In some of the nets 
was less than half that in the previous year. 
The monthly catch in 1891 and 1892 at a pound fishery in Monmouth County was 
as follows : 
Months. 
1891 
(1 net). 
1892 
(2 nets). 
Pounds. 
Pounds. 
May 
405 
Juno 
773 
69 
July 
3,434 
208- 
August 
3,185 
2, 527 
September 
840 
105 
October 
517 
5, 906 
Total 
9, 154 
8, 815 
25. Leirus perciformis (Mitchill). 
On August 21, 1892, Mr. W. Scott Pierce, a pound-net fisherman of Lake Como, 
N. J., sent a black rudder-fish to the IT. S. Fish Commission for identification; he re- 
ported it as new to that coast. The specimen was examined by Dr. Bean. 
26. Stromateus triacanthus Peck. Butter-fish; Dollar-fish. 
One of the most abundant pound-net fish on the coast. It occurs from April to 
October, and at times constitutes the bulk of the catch in pounds. The fish are usually 
very small, the average weight being one-third of a pound. The largest weigh only 
half a pound. On September 7, 1892, the pound nets near Ocean Grove contained 
enormous quantities of small butter-fish; very few were over 4 inches long. 
The fish swim in rather compact schools, and are easily distinguished when in the 
water by their blackish tails. Butter-fish are said by the fishermen to be a favorite 
food of the weakfish. The appearance of an abundance of butter-fish is shortly fol- 
lowed by the advent of weakfish. . 
Following is a statement of the quantities of marketable butter-fish taken in 1891 
and 1S92 at a pound-net fishery off Monmouth County: 
