Tilefish 385 



Size: Reaches a length of 3 feet. 



General Information: The Spadefish lives on rocky bottoms 



and in wrecks. It spawns in summer. The principal food 



of this species is invertebrates. 



Economic Importance: The Spadefish is a commercially 



important food fish in the tropics. 



Tilefish 

 Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps Goode and Bean 



Color: Back and upper sides olive green or bluish; lower 

 sides yellow or rose; belly white with a rosy tint. 

 Distribution: This fish is found along the edge of the Con- 

 tinental Shelf from Nova Scotia to the Gulf of Mexico. 

 Size: Reaches a weight of 50 pounds. A fish 2>V2 feet long 

 weighed 35Vi pounds. 



General Information: The Tilefish is found in depths of 

 270-1,200 feet. It appears to be most abundant in the deep 

 waters from off Nantucket to off Delaware Bay. Spawning 

 occurs in summer. The eggs are buoyant. This species feeds 

 on a wide variety of bottom-dwelling invertebrates of which 

 crabs appear to be the most important item. 

 Economic Importance: A good food fish of limited impor- 

 tance in the commercial fisheries from Cape Hatteras to 

 Cape Cod. 



