538 



FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



ported as from about 2.5 mm. to about 4.5 mm. 

 long wben they hatch. 74 



The first of the dorsal fin rays (which is to form 

 the second head spine of the adult) appears within 



" Larval gooseflsh from New England, from the Bay of Fundy, and from 

 Nova Scotian waters have been described and pictured by Agassiz (Proc. 

 Amer. Acad. Arts, Sci., N. Ser., vol. 9, 1882, p. 280); by Agassiz and Whitman 

 (Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 14, No. 1, Pt. 1, 1885, p. 16, pi. 6, figs. 1-10); 

 by Connolly (Contrib. Canadian Biol. (1921], No. 7, 1922); by Procter and 

 others (Biol. Surv. Mt. Desert region, Pt. 2, Fishes, 1928); and by Beirill 

 (Contrib. Canadian Biol, and Fish., N. Ser., vol. 4, No. 12, 1929, pp. 145-149). 

 For accounts and illustrations of North European and Mediterranean 

 Lophius larvae, see especially Lebour (Jour. Marine Biol. Assoc. United 

 Kingdom, vol. 13, No. 3, 1925, pp. 721-728) who reared them from the eggs at 

 Plymouth, England; also Bowman (Fishery Board for Scotland, Sci. Invest. 

 [19191 1920, No. 11), Stiasny (Arbeit, Zool. Inst. Vienna, vol. 19, 1911, p. 71), 

 and Taning (Report, Danish Oceanogr. Expeds., 1908-1910, No. 7, vol. 2 

 (Biol.), A 10, 1923). 





4 days or so after hatching, as a lobe at the margin 

 of the embryonic finfold on the nape of the neck. 

 The pectorals are formed at about 7 days, when 

 the larva is 5.5 mm. long, the ventral fins have now 

 appeared as two long conical processes below and 

 behind the pectorals (fig. 285D) ; and the pigment 

 has become congregated in 3 or 4 masses behind 

 the vent, the last being a very conspicuous feature 

 that the larvae of the European species L. pisca- 

 torius do not share. The yolk has been absorbed 

 at a length of 6-8 mm., a second dorsal ray has 

 formed behind the first, and the ventral fins have 

 become 2-rayed. The third and fourth dorsal rays 

 or filaments appear while there are still only two 



Figure 285.— Goosefish (Lophius americanus). A, eggs in veil; B, egg with advanced embryo; C, larva, about 5 days 

 old; D, larva about 12 days old; E, older larva; F, larva, 30 mm. A, E, and F, after A. Agassiz. B, C, and D, 

 from New England. 



