364 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



length of head, longest ray one half the length of head, last 

 ray one fourth the length of head; caudal deeply forked, its 

 middle rays one half as long as the head, its ex- 

 ternal rays nearly as long as the head; pectoral reaches to the 

 11th row of scales from its axil, about as far back as the end 

 of the ventral appendage, its length two thirds of length of 

 head; ventral origin midway between tip of snout and fifth 

 ray of anal, its length four sevenths of length of head, the fin 

 extending to below the end of the base of spinous dorsal, the 

 tip distant from the anal origin a space about equal to the 

 length of the fin. D. IV-I, 8; A. Ill, 8. Scales 14-42. Color, 

 dark bluish above; the sides silvery; exjjosed part of scales, 

 specially of eight or 10 upper series, darker than body color, 

 causing a striped appearance; heUy and lower part of sides 

 yellowish; ventral fins yellowish; soft dorsal, anal and ventrals 

 dusky; tip and base of pectoral dusky. 



The striped mullet grows to the length of 2 feet, but the 

 average size in New York waters is much less. 



The fish is known in Great South bay as mullet and jumping 

 mullet; the name mullet is applied to it also in the Gulf of 

 Mexico, and is in general use along the east coast; it is known 

 in the Chesapeake as mullet or fatback. The latter name is 

 probably applied to more than one species. 



The striped mullet is known on our coast from Cape Cod to 

 the Gulf of Mexico. The young are much more abundant than 

 the adults. In Great South bay we found the species not un- 

 common; two examples were taken at the mouth of Swan creek, 

 September 12. Several schools were present. We were informed 

 that they appear occasionally, and one gentleman of Patchogue 

 was very successful in taking this and its allied species with 

 hook and line. De Kay states that the striped mullet was first 

 observed in New York waters by Dr Mitchill. He found them in 

 the markets in the beginning of September. This species is one 

 of our choice food fishes. It is not uncommon in September in 

 Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J., but we were informed that large 

 specimens are never taken in that body of water. 



