FISHES OF THE NORTHERN COAST OF NEW JERSEY. 
377 
The ordinary size of the fish taken in the pound nets is 2 or 3 pounds, the individ- 
uals composing the schools usually being of uniform size. Sometimes, though rarely, 
fish weighing 10 pounds are taken. 
Small weakfish under 9 inches in length are called “bay weakflsh”; they frequent 
the bays and are taken in the pound nets only in very small quantities. The princi- 
pal run begins about July 1 and the fish continue to be caught in large numbers till 
October 1. They go in schools at all times. 
The following statement, giving the catch of weakflsh at a pound-net fishery in 
Monmouth County in 1891 and 1892, shows the monthly fluctuations in the abundance 
of the fish : 
Months. 
1891 
(1 net). 
1892 
(2 nets). 
Pounds. 
Pounds. 
April 
300 
May 
3, 886 
2,S31 
June 
31, 040 
11,644 
July - 
35, 680 
124, 763 
August 
114, 423 
200, 367 
September 
34, 829 
79, 863 
October 
933 
69, 471 
November ' 
23, 677 
Total 
220,791 
512, 916 
33. Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). 
Not observed. According to the fishermen it is taken in the pound nets only at 
rare intervals. 
34. Sciaena ocellata (Linnaeus). Red Drum. 
This fish is in most places considered a nuisance by the pound-net fishermen, and 
only a very small percentage of the catch is sold, the price received being about 50 
cents per fish. Large lifts are made at times. At Spring Lake 250 large drum were 
caught during one day in 1892, all of which were liberated. 
35. Leiostomus xanthurus Lac6pe.de. Spot; Goody; Cape May Goody. 
Not a common fish in the pound nets, but abundant in the bays of this coast, 
where it is taken with seines and gill nets. 
36. Menticirrhus saxatilis (Bloch & Schneider). Kingfish; Barb; Hake. 
In the pound-net fishery this is an uncommon and valued food-fish. It is most 
abundant in May, when more are taken than in all the other months combined. The 
average weight of those caught in pound nets is 1^ pounds. The price received by 
the net fishermen ranges from 5 to 30 cents each, the average probably being 15 or 20 
cents. The general scarcity of the fish is well illustrated by the accompanying state- 
ment, showing the monthly catch at a pound-net fishery in Monmouth County : 
Months 
1891 
(1 net). 
1892 
(2 nets). 
May 
Number. 
164 
Number. 
101 
2 
5 
July 
August 
2 
September 
25 
October 
14 
Total 
169 
144 
