The Spade-Fishes 



schools are seen along the sea-beaches, evidently leaving the coast 

 for warmer water, at which time they are caught with haul seines. 

 In that region they probably spawn in early summer and the 

 young are seen until October. 



The spade-fish reaches a length of 2 or 3 feet and a weight 

 of 20 pounds, though examples of more than 2 feet are not 

 often seen. Very large examples were at one time regarded as 

 belonging to a different species, Ephippus f^igas. 



Within the last 30 years the spade-fish has come to be one of 

 the most highly prized food-fishes, and it is now held in much 

 esteem by connoisseurs in Washington and New York, and in 

 the markets of most eastern cities when it is most abundant 

 during the summer months. 



Large examples of this species are remarkable in having the 

 anterior interhaemal enormously developed into a thick bony mass. 



Colour, grayish or bluish; a dusky band across eye to throat; 

 a second, similar but broader band, beginning in front of dorsal 

 and extending across base of pectoral to belly; a third, narrower 

 band extending to middle of side from base of fourth and fifth 

 dorsal spines; a fourth, and broader band, from last dorsal spine 

 to base of anal spines; all these bands growing obscure and 

 finally disappearing with age; ventrals dark. 



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