Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 313 



high, and about % to % as long at base, its origin over or slightly anterior to origin of 

 anal, its free rear corner a little longer than V2 the base {SS%)' Caudal a little less than 

 V4 of total length, its axis raised at an angle of about 15 to 18°, its upper margin weakly 

 convex, tip subacute, the terminal sector a little less than Yi the length of fin, the lower 

 anterior corner expanded as a definite lobe about V2 as long as the upper, with moderately 

 convex anterior edge narrowing to a subacute tip. Anal slightly but evidently smaller than 

 2nd dorsal, its anterior margin a little more convex, its apex more broadly rounded and its 

 posterior margin much more deeply concave, its free rear corner a little more than % as 

 long as base (69 to 70%). Pel vies with weakly concave rear margins, narrowly rounded 

 distal corners and subacute tips, their anterior margins about as long as anterior margin of 

 anal. Pectoral a little less than % (about 7 1 % ) as long as head, about % as broad as long, 

 with noticeably long base (as long as, or a little longer than, inner margin), the outer 

 margin moderately convex, distal margin moderately concave and corners very narrowly 

 rounded. 



Color. Usually yellowish brown above, but sometimes dark brown or dark bluish 

 gray; lower sides more or less tinged with yellow, or with greenish olive; lower surface 

 either white, pale yellowish or in some cases grayish olive, like the back; anal usually yel- 

 lowish, edged with gray; other fins grayish, either with or without dark edges; margins of 

 gill openings white, shading to dark gray; inside of mouth white, at least in some speci- 

 mens. 



Size. Matures at about 7 to 7 V2 feet and grows to a maximum length of about 1 1 feet. 

 One of 9 feet 6 inches is said to have weighed only 265 pounds. 



Developmental Stages. It is not known whether or not the embryo develops a yolk- 

 sac placenta. 



Habits. Enough information has now accumulated to show that this, like Ginglymos- 

 toma, is strictly an inshore species, common around docks {^e.g.y at Key West, Florida), in 

 salt-water creeks {^e.g., around southern Florida) and in enclosed sounds as along the 

 coast of North Carolina. It has even been reported from within the mouth of the Amazon 

 River and from fresh water elsewhere in Brazil. But it is not known from Bermuda, nor is 

 there any positive record that it appears elsewhere more than a very short distance out 

 from land. Around southwestern Florida it evidently breeds in spring and summer, for 

 newborn specimens with umbilical scars still open (624 to 630 mm.) are taken in shallow 

 inlets from May to September. The only direct information available as to its diet is that 

 cowfish (^Lacto-phrys) were found in the stomach of one, and a sting-ray's spine was 

 imbedded in the jaw of another. But this, with the fact that it readily takes a hook baited 

 with fish, makes it likely that it feeds indiscriminately on whatever fish may be available 

 locally, as its teeth would suggest. 



Relation to Man. Around southern Florida it has some value commercially, its hides, 

 fins and liver oil being of good quality. On the other hand, it has been suspected of attacks 

 on bathers in South Carolina waters, whether justly or not. 



