212 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



margin of the eye. The eye is about as long as the snout, one 

 fifth of length of head. The fins are small, the pectoral not 

 much more than half the length of the head and twice as long 

 as the ventral. The dorsal base is equal in length to the pec- 

 toral; longest dorsal ray more than twice as long as the last 

 ray and about two fifths of length of head. The anal rays are 

 shorter than those of the dorsal; length of anal base little more 

 than one half the length of head. The origin of the dorsal is about 

 midway between tip of snout and end of middle caudal rays. 

 The sides and fins are silvery, yellowish, the upper parts bluish. 

 Behind the head there is a large dark spot, larger than the pupil, 

 and behind it numerous smaller dark spots. 



The menhaden has received more than 30 common names, 

 among which the one here employed is the best known and most 

 suitable. In New Jersey it is frequently called bunker or rnoss- 

 bunker, and in some other localities it is the bony fish. It is 

 also called bugfish, because of a crustacean parasite which is 

 found in the mouth. 



The menhaden reaches a length of 15 inches or more; its aver- 

 age size is about 1 foot. It is found along our east coast from 

 Maine to Florida, swimming in immense schools and fluctuating 

 greatly in abundance. In certain localities its movements are 

 affected chiefly by temperature. 



The use of the menhaden as a source of oil and a material for 

 fertilizers is so well known as scarcely to need mention here. 

 As an edible fish it is not generally esteemed; in most localities 

 it is seldom eaten, though in some places it is considered a good 

 food fish. Since the mackerel is becoming scarce, menhaden are 

 often salted in barrels as a substitute for that fish. 



The menhaden appears in Dr MitchilFs Fishes of Neiv York as 

 the bony fish, hardhead or marshbanker. The aboriginal name 

 menhaden, and the one most suitable for the species, is men- 

 tioned by this writer. Dr De Kay, in his New York Fauna, intro- 

 duced the name mossbunker as well as the Indian names pan- 

 Jiagen and menhaden. He notes also the names skippang and 

 bunker as in use at the east end of Long Island. For a survey 



