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Black drum were sampled from pound nets, haul seines, sport catches, and exploratory trawl and seine gear from 1959 through 1970 in a study of growth and distribution. Juveniles as small as 22 mm and adults up to 132 cm length and 46 kg (101.25 lbs) were examined. No sex differential in growth occurred and mean lengths for age-groups I, II and III were 223 ram, 406 mm and 562 mm respectively. Weights for the same age sequence are 0.17, 1.09 and 2.93 kg. More than one scale ring is apparently formed each year after the fourth year. Growth equations are: Lt in cm: 147.4 (1 -e-ø'•58•t+ø'ø•>), and Wt in kg = 52.9 (1 -e-ø'•½øt) •. During the years 1962-1970, 69.6% of commercial landings by weight and 97.6% of citation sport catches by number occurred in the period April-June. Ocean surface temperatures at Chesapeake Light averaged 17.54 C with a standard deviation of 2.69 degrees coincidentally on days of sport catches April through June. 584 RICHARDS--BLACK DRUM IN VIRGINIA 585

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