I 7 8 Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 



as large cells under the microscope, a character that seems to be common to all species 

 of Engraulidae whose eggs have been studied. The egg floats at or near the surface 

 and hatches in about 24 hours at room temperature, at least at Beaufort, North Carolina, 

 during early summer.* 



The newly hatched fish, 1.8— 2.0 mm long, is rather slender, perfectly trans- 

 parent, and has no pigment spots. The yolksac is absorbed within about two days, and 

 the large mouth, which is terminal at this stage, then seems to be functional. The pro- 

 jecting snout is not developed until the young fish reaches a length of about 20-25 "^"^• 

 But the fins are sufficiently developed at a length of about 1 5 mm to permit a fairly 

 accurate enumeration of the rays. The number of anal rays and the relative positions 

 of the dorsal and anal fins are very useful in identifying the postlarvae with the adults. 



The early young of the season seem to become sexually mature during their first 

 summer, for specimens 45—60 mm long that remained quite transparent, taken late 

 in July and during the first half of August at Beaufort, N. C, contained well devel- 

 oped roe. 



Sf awning. In the vicinity of Beaufort, N. C, spawning takes place at least from 

 early spring to midsummer. The eggs were taken in tows there as early as April 2 1 (in 

 1930) and as late as July 15 (in 1929), while gravid fish were seen as late as August 12 

 (from my unpublished notes). 



Food. The food apparently consists mostly of Mysis and copepods, the latter being 

 the sole food of the young. Other items taken are small fish, gastropods, and isopods 



(5: no)- 



Enemies. This fish, which is exceedingly numerous in a large part of its range, is 



preyed upon extensively by predatory fish and water birds. 



Variation. The variation within this species is so great that I recognized a 

 northern subspecies, A. mitchilli mitchilli, and a southern one, A. mitchilli diaphana 

 (j: 87-94). The specimens from the southern part of the range have rather consistently 

 deeper and more strongly compressed bodies, fewer gill rakers, fewer vertebrae, a 

 longer pectoral fin, and a narrower silvery lateral band. These differences are shown by 

 comparing the characters of a small lot of specimens from Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 

 with another lot from Grand Isle, Louisiana, which show the widest divergence 

 (Table iv). Complete intergradation of the two subspecies occurs in the midsection of 

 their range, as in North and South Carolina. 



Commercial Importance. This Anchovy is used as bait and to a limited extent in 

 the preparation of anchovy paste. However, it is important chiefly as forage for many 

 important foodfishes. As this fish usually occurs in schools and is a rather sluggish 

 swimmer, it is an easy prey of many predators. 



Range and Habitat. Cape Cod, Massachusetts (rarely northward into the Gulf of 

 Maine), and southward to Yucatan, Mexico. Brazilian records probably are referable 

 either to A.parva or A.januaria. While A. mitchilli occurs along the outer and exposed 



4. The information as to the eggs and young fish is in part from Kuntz (9: 13-19) and in part from my 

 field notes. 



