1864 BiiUctbi /7, United States National Miiseitm. 



a. Dorsal fins contiguous or connected. 



b. Anal fin very long, its rajs 20 or more, 

 c. Anal fin without spines. 

 HeSAGRAMMIN^ : 

 d. Gill membranes broadly united; mouth moderate, the jaws with au outer 

 series of stronger teeth, but no canines. 

 e. Lateral lines * 4 or more on each side. 



/. Dorsal fin continuous, or slightly omarginate. 



Pleurogbammus, 698. 



ff. Dorsal fin with the spines separated from the soft rays by a deep 



notch. Hexageammos, 699. 



Ophiodontin^ : 



dd. Gill membranes not connected ; mouth large, the jaws armed with strong 



canines ; lateral line single on each side ; scales cycloid ; preopercle 



aimed. Ophiodon, 700. 



cc. Anal fin with 3 stout spines. 



ZANIOLEPIDIN.?;; : 



g. Gill membranes scarcely united ; spinous dorsal greatly elevated in ft-ont ; 

 scales very rough. Zaniolepis, 701. 



OXYLEBIINiE : 



gg. Gill membranes broadly united ; dorsal spines low, stiff; head pointed. 



OXTLEBIUS, 702. 



698. PLEUROGRAMMUS, Gill. 

 (Atka Fishes.) 



Pleurogrammus, Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1861, 166 (monopterygius). 



This genus differs from Hexagrammos mainly in the character of the 

 dorsal fins, the high spines being continuous with the soft rays. Scales 

 ctenoid. Lateral lines 5 on each side. The single species known is highly 

 valued as a food-fish, its flesh being rich and tender. {itXevpoy, side; 

 y/ja^iMV, line.) 



2'257. PLEUROGRAMMUS MONOPTERYGIUS (Pallas). 



(Atka-fish.) t 



Head 4 in length of body ; depth 4; D. XXI, 25; A. 24; lateral line 210, 

 pores 143 ; eye 5 iu head ; maxillary 2^ ; snout 3^ ; iuterorbital 3^ ; highest 

 dorsal spine 1|; highest anal ray 2i; pectorals li; ventialslf ; caudal lobe 

 1+ ; gill rakers 6 + 22. Body rather stout, little compressed ; head not 

 large, the profile rather steep; mouth moderate, below the axis; maxillary 

 extending to below anterior edge of pupil; jaws subequal,the teeth cardi- 

 form, in rather broad bands on front of jaws, the outer series slightly 

 enlarged, a single row on sides; teeth on vomer and a few asperites on 

 palatines; iuterorbital wide aud evenly convex. Scales small, ctenoid; 

 top of head to just iu front of nostrils scaled; cheeks and opercles with 

 scales; tip of snout, preorbital, suborbital stay, maxillaries, mandible, and 

 a space around edge of preopercle naked; scales running up the base of 



* Lateral line single iu the Japanese genus, Agrammxts. 



t Commercially known as "Atka mackerel,' It is, however, not a mackerel, nor has it 

 any resemblance to one. 



