TWO SPECIES OF MENHADEN. 7 
The menhaden feeds on floating plankton, which it is well able to 
obtain from the water through the mouth with its highly specialized 
gill-rakers. While the fish are feeding they perform characteristic 
whirling movements by means of which the fishermen are able to 
sight the schools. 
This species is known by many names, viz, menhaden, bugfish, shad, 
oldwife, alewife, yellowtail, fatback, etc. Menhaden is the name 
most widely used throughout the range of the species, but at Beau- 
fort it is nearly always called fatback. This name is in allusion to 
the broad back and the layer of fat which hes underneath the skin 
along the dorsal region. 
BREVOORTIA AUREUS (Agassiz). 
Head, 3.1 to 3.5 in length of body to base of caudal fin; depth, 2.25 to 2.7; 
dorsal rays, 17 or 18; anal rays, 21 to 22; scales, in 63 to 73 oblique series 
along middle of side from posterior margin of opercle to base of caudal fin; 
vertebree, 7+39. 
Body, deep, strongly compressed; the back rather strongly elevated; the 
ventral outline, anteriorly notably more strongly convex than the dorsal pro- 
file; head, short and deep, its depth at margin of preopercle equal to its length ; 
snout, short, 3.45 to 4.23 in head; eye, 3.75 to 4.85; mouth, large, oblique; maxil- 
lary, broad, reaching slightly past vertical from middle of eye, 2.15 to 2.22 in 
head; opercle and preopercle, with very feeble striations; gill-rakers, very long 
and slender, numerous, close-set; teeth, absent; scales, small, ctenoid, very 
irregularly placed, at least along the back, much reduced on caudal peduncle, 
the serrations blunt, finger-shaped, without evident grooves at base; ventral 
scutes, well developed, about 32 in number. 
Dorsal fin, somewhat elevated anteriorly, with a low sheath of scales at base ; 
caudal fin, deeply forked, the lobes of about equal length, longer than head; 
anal fin, low, its base a little longer than that of the dorsal; ventral fins, small, 
a little longer than snout; pectoral fins, moderate, 1.47 to 1.62 in head. 
Color of back, bluish-green; sides, silvery; a large black humeral spot 
present, no smaller black spots behind it; fins, all golden. 
The “ yellow-fin shad” is much Jess abundant than the fatback. It 
is not known to school, but is taken within the harbor throughout 
the summer, usually only a few at a time. It inhabits the deeper 
waters and, unlike the fatback, is a vigorous swimmer and fights 
bravely when captured. When taken in a net it runs here and there, 
striking the net with great force, and if an avenue for escape is any- 
where open it is almost sure to find it. By this habit it may at once 
be distinguished from the fatback, which is a sluggish species, offering 
feeble resistence when captured, usually striking the net a single time 
and remaining where it comes in contact with the web while it is 
being hauled in. 
This fish, although not taken in sufficient quantity to be of much 
economic importance, has been marketable at Beaufort for many 
years. The fishermen call it the “ yellow-fin shad” and say that it 
has a better flavor and fewer bones than the fatback. The only differ- 
ence the writer was able to detect, however, is that the meat of the 
present species appears to be a little less oily. 
The spawning habits of this fish are unknown. Only adult fish, 
ranging from 250 to 330 mm. in length, have been observed. The 
writer during nearly three years of persistent efforts was unable to 
find the young or any definite clue to the spawning habits. Large 
fish, 300 mm. and more in length, may be obtained within the harbor 
throughout the summer, but fatbacks of this size, as already stated, 
are obtainable only during the fall. 
