'"l«yi" J PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 93 



I 53. Syiiodus foetens L. Lizard Fish. 



U. S. N. M., 42479, 43144. Seventeen specimens, from 6 to 10 inches 

 lou^. 



II Mr. Seal found this fish lo be common at St. Jerome's in September, 

 '1889. The fishermen called it scorpion, pronounced " scarpen," and its 

 bite is feared bv the colored people. Other common names elsewhere 

 in use are, cigar fish, spear fish, sand diver, etc. 



54. Elops saurus L. Big-eyed Herring. 



U. S. N. M., 43149, 43150. Two specimens, 12 and 13.^ inches long 

 Mr. Seal tells me that this species is called lady fish at Cape Charles 

 City. 



55. Opisthonema oglinuni Le S. I'Lrcad Herring. 



U. S. N. M., 43205. Three si)ecimens, 5 inches long. 



56. Brevoortia tyraniius Latrobe. Meuhadeu. 



U. S. N. M., 43130. This species is known as old wife in the Chesa- 

 (peake at Cape Charles City. On the way to the pound nets we saw 

 jmany schools, some of which were very large. The nets were full of 



them. Being of no use to the fishermen as food fish, the menhaden 

 jWere thrown back into the bay. Mr. Sterling, of Sterling Brothers, 



told us that there were more menhaden in the bay than had been seen 

 1 for years. Notwithstanding the great abundance of this fish there was 

 |a scarcity of bluefish, Spanish mackerel, weakfish, and crab-eaters 



("bonito"). In May, 1889, Mr. Seal obtained the menhaden in the 



Lower Potomac, and in Sei^tember at St. Jerome's, Maryland. At the 



latter place they ranged in length from 2 to 8 inches. 



57. Stolephorus broAvni Gmeliu. Anchovy. 



ir. S. N . M., 43224. Thirty-seven specimens, 3 to 4 inches long. Anal 

 20. Abundant in coves, where they are fed upon voraciously by the 

 weakfish. 

 • As a delicacy the anchovy is probably the best fish of our waters. 



58. Stolephorus mitchilli Cav. it Val. Anchovy. 



I U. S. N. M., 43223. Fifty specimens, 1 to 2i inches long. Anal 27. 



I Mr. Seal took the anchovy in the Wicomico River, Lower Potomac, 



May 16, 1889, and at St. Jerome's in September, 1889, where he records 



I it as not abundant. It was found from one-half to 3 inches in length. 



59. Conger conger L. Conger Eel. 



A few examples were taken in the Atlantic, near Cobb's Island, and 

 brought alive to Washington. The species was not observed in the 

 Chesapeake. 



