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



95 



which at 6.5 and 12.5 mm. in length possessed more extensive pigmentation than fish 

 of corresponding sizes taken in Chesapeake Bay. The greatest depth of the body is 

 contained about 3.3 to 3.4 times in the standard length. In both larval and postlarval 

 stages of the gray sea trout the body continues to increase in proportionate depth 

 until at about 17 mm. it commences to decrease. In other words, the body becomes 



Figure 21.— Cynotelon regalia. From a specimen 17 mm. long. 



progressively stouter and shorter in proportion to length from the slender, newly 

 hatched fish up to about 17 mm. in length, while after 17 mm. is reached the body 

 tends to become more slender and elongate (fig. 21). 



Yoimg sea trout over 17 mm. in length are characterized largely by four distinct 

 saddles on the body. Both Eigenmann (1901) and Breder and Welch (1922) have 

 described various stages of the young sea trout (fig. 22). 



Growth. — Juvenile sea trout were found to grow rapidly during their first summer. 

 Planktonic young ranging from 8 to 10 mm. soon settle to the bottom after entering 



Figcee 22.— Ci/noncion regalii. From a specimen 32 mm. long. From Welsh and Breder (1923). 



Chesapeake Bay. Brackish creeks and coves are favorite shelters for the young. 

 Collections of fish at varying intervals during 1929-30 indicate that the young attain 

 an average length of 16 to 20 cm. (6.3 to 7.8 in.) by the end of the first year. A growth 

 diagram of young sea trout collected during their first summer and following spring 

 is shown in figure 23. 



The length-range of young fish taken during the summer of 1930 is considerably 

 less than for fish secured in 1929. This difference appears largely due to size selec- 

 tion by the type of fishing gear employed. Seines were used exclusively during 1929 

 and allowed a greater escapement of the smaller fish than occurred in 1930, when 

 fine-meshed trawls were employed. Similarly, year-old fish taken during the spring 



