Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 



325 



Scales: 46—54. Fin rays: dorsal 15—20; anal 16-21; 



Ventral scutes: 31-36. pectoral 14-16. 



Gill rakers: on lower limb 41-51 in Vertebrae: 49-53 {jiS specimens), 



adults, most frequently 45-50. 



Body rather slender, moderately compressed, its greatest thickness about 2.5 in 

 the depth, its depth 3.0—4.6 in SL. 



Scales only moderately adherent, generally lost in young; with crenulate membra- 

 nous edge preceded by scarcely visible striae: about 13 or 14 longitudinal rows of 



Figure 80. Pomolobus aestivalis, 265 mm TL, 10.6 inches, USNM 32639. 



scales on body between base of pelvic and base of dorsal. Ventral scutes rather 

 strong, 18—21 in advance of pelvic fins and 12—16 behind them. 



Head frequently equal to depth, 3.33-4.6 in SL. Snout 3.6-5.8 in head. Eye 

 small, equal to or shorter than snout in adults, 3.0-6.0. Interorbital 4.0-7.0. Cheek 

 notably longer than deep (Fig. 76 c). Mouth oblique. Upper jaw with a definite 

 notch in adults. Lower jaw not projecting strongly, partly included, not entering into 

 dorsal profile, its upper margin within the mouth rising abruptly and forming a 

 more or less definite obtuse angle (Fig. 76 c). Maxillary broad, its greatest width about 

 75 "/o of length of snout, rounded posteriorly, reaching to, or more often somewhat 

 beyond, vertical from middle of eye, 2.0-2.7 in head. Gill rakers at angle of first arch 

 fully 0.75 of diameter of eye; increasing in number with age: 28—36 on lower limb in 

 examples 30-49 mm SL, 30-39 in specimens 50-69 mm, 35-41 in specimens 70- 

 89 mm, 38-44 in specimens 90-109 mm, 42-48 in specimens 110-129 mm, 42-50 

 in specimens 130-149 mm, and 42-52 in examples 190-260 mm (adults). Teeth on 

 premaxillary exceedingly minute in young, missing in adults; those on free rim of 

 maxillary rather prominent in young and often slightly evident posteriorly in adults; 



