FISHES OF THE GULF OF MAINE 



231 



much longer. In young fry of 2 to 3 inches (none larger than this have ever been 

 seen north of Cape Cod), the second dorsal originates somewhat m front of the tip 

 of the pectoral, but by the time the fish has grown to 8 or 9 inches in length we 

 find it originating slightly leMnd the tip of the pectoral, and in larger fish it stands 

 still farther back.'^ 



In the rudderfish, as in the pilotfish, the anal (20 to 21 rays) is little more than 

 haK as long as the second dorsal. In young fish it is preceded by one or two short 

 spines which adults lack. The ventrals are slightly longer -than the pectorals, and 

 more pointed in large than in small specimens ; the caudal is deeply forked, its slender 

 peduncle keeled; and the mouth is of moderate size, gaping back to the forward 

 margin of the eye and armed with broad bands of hairlike teeth. The body is 

 clad with small scales. 



Color. — Described as bluish or silvery brown above, paler on the sides, and 

 white below. In young fish the sides are crossbarred with five or six broad dark 

 blue or brown bands, the last four of which run up on the dorsal and the last two 



Fig. 106.— Rudderfish [Seriola zonata). After Storer 



or three down on the anal fin. There is a dark band running obliquely from the 

 first dorsal to the eye. All of these bands fade with growth, however, to disappear 

 in large fish. The first dorsal is black, the anal white at the base, the ventrals 

 black above, pale below, and the caudal dusky green with white tips.°° 



Size. — Ma:ximimi length about 3 feet. 



General range. — ^Atlantic coast of America — Massachusetts Bay to Gulf of 

 Mexico. 



Occurrence in the Gulf of Maine. — The rudderfish has not been definitely re- 

 corded from the Gulf for many years, its claim to mention here resting on two 

 specimens taken at Wellfleet in 1844 and 1849 and mentioned by Storer, one at 

 Beverly in May, 1866, and one at Salem sometime prior to 1879. Small fry \}/2 

 to 7 inches long are regular summer visitors at Woods Hole, however. 



" We have eiamined specimens ranging from 3 to 9 inches in length taken at Woods Hole, New Bedford, and other localities. 

 Storer's illustration (1853-1867), reproduced here, was of a 2-inch fish. 

 M We have not seen this fish alive. 



102274—25+- 



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