YOUNG OF SOME MARINE FISHES IN LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY, VA. 



91 



Description. — The length range of the young extended from 2.5 to 9 mm. Young 

 sea bass remain undescribed but comparison with a series of known sea bass from 

 southern New England waters establishes the identity of the Chesapeake fish. Fin 

 rays may be counted when the young reach 9 mm. in length. A distinctive type of 

 pigmentation along the ventral edge of the body is characteristic of the larvae. 



BAIRDIELLA CHRYSURA (Lacepede). Sand perch 



Distribution. — The young of Bairdiella chrysura apparently are hatched largely 

 outside of the area of collection, for only seven larval and postlarval fish were taken in 

 the plankton. The young were secured from June 7 to July 1, 1929, principally at 

 Stations A and B. Young fish ranging from 6 to 28 mm. were commonly taken by 

 trawl on the muddy bottom in Little Creek in July 1930. 



Description. — The planktonic fish were from 2.5 to 5 mm. in length. Larval and 

 postlarval sand perch are recognized by two vertical bands, the first behind the head 



Figure 15.—Pomatomus saltatrii. From a specimen 72 mm. long. 



and the second, less pronounced, about two-thirds the distance from the vent to the 

 tip of the tail. The band nearest the tail is often weak and indistinct. Kuntz (1914) 

 described the eggs and the 3 r oung of the species. 



MICROPOGON UNDULATUS (Linnaeus). Croaker 



Distribution. — Notwithstanding a great abundance of juvenile croakers within 

 lower Chesapeake Bay throughout the year, a relatively small number of larval and 

 postlarval fish were taken in the plankton. Young fish were taken on Sept, 13, 1929, 

 and from July 29 to Oct. 17, 1930. Practically all catches were made at stations 

 nearest the sea. 



An extended spawning period for croakers noted by Hildebrand and Cable (1930) 

 in North Carolina evidently occurs also in the region of Chesapeake Bay. 



Description. — The young croakers ranged from 1.5 to 15 mm. in length. Larval 

 croakers and larval gray sea trout appeared together in the plankton on several 

 occasions in late July 1930. The two species closely resemble each other when newly 

 hatched. The young croaker at 2 mm. in length, however, possesses a much deeper 

 body than the sea trout at the same size. The croaker usually has a dark, crescent- 

 shaped area above the abdominal cavity, while this marking is usually not as distinct 

 in young sea trout. The pronounced chromatophore at the base of the anal fin, 

 found on all young sea trout, is not especially pronounced on young croakers, although 



