260 



BTJLLETIK OF THE BUBEAU OF FISHEKIES 



and though this last is a trivial character and variable from fish to fish it is an 

 extremely characteristic one shared by no other Gulf of Maine species except the 

 kingfish (p. 277). The anal (3 short sharp spines followed by 7 soft rays) originates 

 under or very slightly behind the origin of the soft portion of the dorsal, which it 

 resembles in its rounded outline and in being much higher than long. Both the 

 anal and the soft part of the dorsal are notably flexible. The pectorals are so long 

 that they reach back to the anal, and are broad and round tipped — a good field 

 mark. The ventrals, too, are larger than in any other fish with which the sea bass 

 might be confused, and they originate in front of the pectorals, whereas in scup, 

 rosefish, cunner, and tautog they stand slightly behind the latter. The scales are 

 rather large, but the top of the head is naked. 



Color. — Like most fish that lie on rocky bottom sea bass vary widely in color, 

 the general ground tint ranging from smoky gray to dusky brown or ahnost black, 

 sometimes with a bluish cast and usually more or less mottled. The beUy is but 

 slightly paler than the sides. In every sea bass we have^seen the bases of the ex- 



FiG. 123.— Sea bass ( Centroprisles slr'iatw) 



posed portions of the scales have been paler than their margins, giving the fish 

 the appearance of being barred %vith longitudinal series of dots of a lighter tint of 

 brown than the general hue in dark fish; pearl gray in the palest. The dorsal fin 

 has several series of whitish spots and bands; the other fins are mottled with dusky. 

 Young fish are greenish and often show dark cross bars. 



Size. — Sea bass grow to a length of 2 feet or longer, and rarely to a weight of 

 6 pounds or more, but northern specimens are rarely heavier than 4 pounds and they 

 average only about IH pounds. A fish a foot long weighs about a pound, while 

 one of 18 to 20 inches weighs about 3 pounds. 



General range. — Atlantic coastal waters of the United States, from Florida to 

 Cape Cod and rarely to Maine. 



Occurrence in the Gulf of Maine. — The sea bass reaches the Gulf only as a rare 

 stray from the south. Matinicus Island is its northernmost outpost. It has been 

 taken in Casco Bay, near Gloucester (where a few have been caught in the traps), 

 off Nahant, Salem, and Beverly, in Massachusetts Bay, at North Truro, and at 



