The present paper has as its main objective an improvement of the statistics fishery in Brazil. The writers deal only with marine Sciaenidae whose geographical distribution includes part or the totality of Brazilian shore waters in a tentative to promote a collection of uniform statistc data for every species. A list of the species is given together with a simple key for identification as well as a general survey of the popular nomenclature for them. As the latter has many gaps and no value for a rigorous separation of the species, the writers decided to propose to the government offices responsible for the fishery statistics a list of "official popular names" which, given the opportunity of being put into practice, will permit the accomplishment of their objectives.
