398 Ocean Sand Launce, Northern Stargazer 



preyed on by larger fishes beneath and sea birds above. 

 When frightened it darts into the bottom sand and fre- 

 quently, while so buried, is left stranded on bars and flats 

 which are exposed as the tide falls. The American Sand 

 Launce feeds mostly on small crustaceans, as well as a 

 wide variety of other small aquatic animals. 

 Economic Importance: This is an abundant species of 

 great importance as a food for larger fishes. Small quan- 

 tities are sold for food and some are used for bait by both 

 the commercial and recreational fisheries. A large com- 

 mercial fishery has developed in Europe for a related spe- 

 cies of sand launce, primarily for processing into fish meal 

 and oil. 



Ocean Sand Launce 

 Ammodytes oceanicus 



This species, discovered by the author and as yet unde- 

 scribed, has been found from New York to Cape Cod. 

 In the past it has been confused with the American sand 

 launce. Little is known about this fish. 



Northern Stargazer 

 Astroscopus guttatus (Abbott) 



Color: Dusky; many irregular white spots on upper sides; 

 hazy dark blotches on lower sides. Dirty white below. Up- 

 per part of caudal peduncle has 5 irregular white blotches; 

 a dark longitudinal band on the side of the caudal peduncle. 

 Distribution: New York to Virginia. 

 Size: Reaches a length of about one foot. 



