FISHES OF THE GULF OF MAINE 523 



the dorsal originates at the very tip of the nose (that is, further forward than in our 

 commoner flounders), and that its small eyes are set flat instead of in prominent 

 orbits. Other characters worth mentioning are that the gape of the mouth is shorter 

 and much more crooked on the blind side than on the eyed side (an asymmetry that 

 has been emphasized in most descriptions of this species) , that it is evenly oval in 

 outline without a definite caudal peduncle, and that there are about 55 dorsal rays 

 and 38 to 41 anal rays but no pre-anal spine. The scales are very rough on both sides, 

 those of the upper part of the head and chin on the eyed side and on the whole head 

 on the blind side being larger than the body scales. It is very slimy with mucus. 



Color. — ^Described (we have no color notes from life) as varying from dusky or 

 slaty oUve to dark brown on the eyed side, barred transversely with a varying num- 

 ber of indistinct darker stripes, and with a dark longitudinal stripe along the lateral 

 line. The dorsal, caudal, and anal fins are of the general body tint, variously dark 

 clouded. The blind side is dirty white, usually marked (in northern fish) with dark 

 round spots which vary in size and number, but northern specimens, like southern 

 ones, occasionally lack these spots. 



Size. — Six to seven inches is about the maximum length. 



General range. — Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, with Massachu- 

 setts Bay as the northern limit. The hogchoker is abundant south of Chesapeake 

 Bay and moderately common as far north as southern New England but decidedly 

 rare north of Cape Cod. 



Occurrence in the Gulf of Maine. — This little flatfish has been reported from 

 Provincetown (where Captain Atwood spoke of it as plentiful) ; from Boston Har- 

 bor, whence the Musemn of Comparative Zoology possesses several, all caught long 

 ago; from the mouth of the Charles River (2 specimens reported in 1847) ; and from 

 Nahant (one taken in 1840) ; but it is more than half a century since it has been 

 brought to scientific attention north of Cape Cod, and if caught from time to time, 

 as has probably been the case, it has not been recognized. It is not known north or 

 east of Cape Ann nor on the offshore banks. 



Habits and food. — Little is known of the habits of this species except that it is a 

 fish of shoal and brackish waters, most often found in river mouths and on the flats 

 in bays or estuaries, sometimes running up into fresh water. It breeds in spring, 

 for fish that were apparently ripe have been taken at Woods Hole in May, but its 

 life history has not been followed nor is its diet known. Probably it is normally 

 carnivorous like other American flatfishes, although fragments of seaweed have 

 been found in its stomach. 



Commercial importance. — The hogchoker is so small that it is of no commercial 

 value, although said to be delicious eating. 



