388 Sea Raven 



autumn and winter. The eggs are adhesive when laid, and 

 they stick together in clumps and attach to any object that 

 they may touch. Fish 10 inches long are 4 years old; 11- 

 12 inches long, 6 years old. This species eats a wide variety 

 of foods including shrimps, crabs, and other crustaceans, 

 worms, shellfish, and small fishes. It grunts when removed 

 from the water. 



Economic Importance: None. The Longhorn Sculpin is 

 frequently caught by anglers fishing for winter flounders. 



Sea Raven 

 Hemitripterus americanus (Gmelin) 



Color: Variable; red, reddish purple, yellow-brown to 

 chocolate. Paler on lower sides than on back and upper 

 sides. Belly yellow. Body colors may be solid or have 

 mottled shades of the general ground color. 

 Distribution: Newfoundland south to Chesapeake Bay. 

 Size: Reaches a length of about 2 feet and a weight of 

 about 7 pounds. 



General Information: The Sea Raven is most common in 

 depths of 15-300 feet. Spawning occurs in late autumn 

 and winter and 15,000-40,000 eggs are laid by a single 

 fish. The eggs are sticky and are deposited mostly on 

 certain species of northern sponges, to which they adhere. 

 The Sea Raven is a voracious feeder and eats a wide 

 variety of invertebrates and fishes. It is capable of swal- 

 lowing a fish almost as large as itself. 

 Economic Importance: None. 



