Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 44 1 



an eye's diameter in advance of dorsal, its base 2.5-2.95 in SL. Pelvic fin shorter 

 than eye, inserted a little nearer to origin of anal than to base of pectoral, 5.4—6.9 in 

 head. Pectoral fin reaching well beyond base of pelvic, 5.4-6.75 in SL, 1.3-1.6 in 

 head; the free axillary process about a third of the length of the fin. 



Color. In alcohol, pale with a fairly definite white lateral band (presumably silvery 

 in life); nape and tip of snout with dusky punctulations; the more recently preserved 

 specimens with dusky punctulations on entire median section of back, mostly arranged 

 in two parallel series behind dorsal fin; dorsal and caudal fins with dusky punctulations; 

 base of anal generally with a row of small dark spots. 



Size. This species is among the smallest of herrings. The largest at hand, about 

 107 mm TL (4.3 in.; 84 mm SL), seems to be the largest example known. 



Development. Specimens less than 52 mm TL, 42 mm SL, remain unknown. 

 Nevertheless, a considerable increase in proportionate depth takes place with age and 

 growth, as the large specimens at hand are notably deeper than the smaller ones. The 

 greatest depth in a specimen 42 mm SL is contained 5.7 times in SL whereas in one 

 84 mm SL this proportion is only 3.7. 



Although proportionate increase in the body depth with age and growth is so 

 usual among Clupeidae that it is expected, a proportionate increase in the size of eye 

 during development is so unusual as to be subject to question. However, the speci- 

 mens that are now at hand, suspected at first, did in fact show this characteristic. 

 Using again the two extremes in size, it is found that the eye in the 42-mm specimen 

 is contained 3.55 times in the head and is only 7.1 "/o of SL, whereas in the 84-mm 

 fish it is contained 3.0 times in the head and is 8.3 "/o of SL. From the fairly complete 

 and graduated growth series within the range already mentioned, it is evident that the 

 eye does increase in proportionate size with age and growth. It may be assumed, there- 

 fore, that this development, the reverse of what usually obtains in fishes, is normal in 

 C. bleekerianus. 



Spawning. A female about 107 mm TL, containing well-developed eggs fully 

 0.5 mm in diameter, was taken off Trinidad by the Albatross, in 31—34 fms. As it 

 was caught on February 3 (1884), the indication is that C. bleekerianus spawns during 

 the northern winter. 



Relationship. This species, as now understood, is the only one belonging to the 

 genus Chirocentrodon. It has been described under at least three different names, as in- 

 dicated in the Synonyms, but Breder has shown adequately that the three constitute 

 only one species {22: 133). 



Commercial Importance. This little herring was seen occasionally in the market in 

 Port-au-Prince, Haiti, by Beebe and Tee-Van, who also stated that it is rare in Haiti 

 (jO: 43). It is not known to be numerous anywhere, therefore its importance as food 

 for man as well as for fishes and other animals feeding on fish is probably slight. 



Range. West Indies, from Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad; 

 also from the Atlantic coast of Panama, the Gulf of Venezuela, and Ubatuba, Sao 

 Paulo, Brazil. 



