378 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The name “king-fish” is in common use in the pound-net region ; in BarnegatBay 
and vicinity “barb” is the current appellation; and “hake ” is heard at various points. 
37. Pogonias cromis (Linnaeus). Gray Drum ; Black Drum. 
Less common than the red drum in the pound nets and has about the same com- 
mercial value. The adult fish, by some called gray drum, weigh about 20 pounds. 
The young, which are banded and are known as black drum in some places, are at 
times sold to summer visitors under the name of sheepshead. 
38. Ctenolabrus adspersus (Walbaum). Gall. 
In the pound-net region this fish is found throughout the fishing season, although 
it is taken only iu small numbers. The largest examples weigh 1J pounds. The name 
“gall,” which was heard for this fish in Ocean and Monmouth counties, is evidently a 
corruption of burgall, a designation employed in New York and other places. 
Small examples were abundant in the dense vegetable growth which adheres to 
pound-net poles, ropes, anchors, etc. At Bradley Beach an old rope, covered with 
Ulva lactuca lactuca and U. enteromorpha compressa, when pulled up had hundreds of 
small cunners on it, which were landed in the boat. Small crabs and shrimp were 
also found in the same situation. The immature fish differ greatly from the adults in 
coloration, as may be judged from the following description of specimens taken at 
Bradley Beach September 9, 1892 : 
The largest specimens were 2 inches long. The general color in life is dark pinkish, the body being 
marked by seven or eight more or less distinct dark-brown crossbars. Beneath yellowish, -the color 
being especially bright anteriorly. Eye and operculum lustrous golden. Vent bluish. A black spot 
at the junction of the spinous and soft dorsal fins. Some examples, probably females, are without 
crossbars, and are uniformly pinkish. Head iu length, 3f ; depth in length, 3£. 
These small fish are not recognized by the fishermen, although most of them 
distinguish the full- grown fish from the tautog. 
39. Tautoga onitis (Linnaeus). Blackfish. 
This fish is caught in small quantities in the pound nets in April and May. The 
catch varies from year to year, depending on the time when the nets are first set. 
Other things being equal, the earlier the pound fishing begins the larger the yield of 
blackfish. They occur in abundance on the rocky ledges off various parts of this 
shore, as, for instance, .on the Shrewsbury Rocks off Long Branch, and considerable 
quantities are taken in such situations by professional line fishermen. Examples 
weighing 10 pounds are sometimes caught, but the fish do not average more than 1 
or 2 pounds. 
40. Prionotus strigatus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Pigfish ; Sand Pigfish ; Sea Robin. 
Yery abundant. Taken in pound nets in enormous quantities throughout the 
summer. At times practically the entire catch consists of them. A few are utilized 
for lobster bait, but most of them are turned back into the water. 
During the hauling of the pound nets and after being dipped into the boats this 
fish emits a peculiar grunting sound, which gives rise to the name “pigfish.” When 
out of the water it has a curious habit, when disturbed, of opening its mouth and 
giving a sudden short jump, at the same time uttering a loud croak. 
Some of the fishermen in Monmouth County call this species the “ sand pigfish” 
to distinguish it from P. palmipes, which is often known as the “rock pigfish.” The 
name “ sea robin ” ig also in use. 
