196 Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 



notochord is definitely bent upward in the base of the caudal fin, and the caudal has 

 indefinite rays. 



At a length of 1 5 mm the caudal fin is well developed and forked, the notochord 

 is no longer visible, and the mouth remains terminal and oblique. Some additional 

 chromatophores have appeared along the ventral surface, and dark pigment has ap- 

 peared along the upper margin of the eye. 



Figure 40. Anchoa hepsetus hepsetus, 114 mm TL, from Atlantic City, New Jersey, USNM 127525, with 

 pectoral fin enlarged. Drawn by Louella E. Cable. 



Little external development takes place while the fish grows from a length of 

 15 to 25 mm. However, when the fish reaches ^^ mm, the mouth has become almost 

 horizontal, as in adults, and the conical snout projects prominently. Pigmentation has 

 Increased and the silvery lateral band of the adult, though narrow and indistinct at this 

 point, has appeared. Although the body has now become fairly robust, it remains more 

 slender than In adults. Its depth being contained In the length about 6.0 times. 



When It reaches a length of about 40-45 mm It may be definitely considered 

 a young adult. Although it remains somewhat more slender than larger fish. It is fully 

 pigmented, has the characteristic silvery lateral band well developed, is fully scaled, 

 and is easily identified with the adult {4: 389-393; also unpublished field notes of 

 the writer). 



Spawning. In the vicinity of Beaufort, North Carolina, spawning begins early in 

 the spring. April 16 Is the earliest date on which eggs have been taken. Toward the 

 middle of June, eggs diminished In number In the tows, though a few were taken 

 throughout July. The young, 22 mm and less, were collected in Beaufort Inlet as early 

 as April 1 1. {4: 388; also unpublished data of the writer). 



Food. When the fish is about 20 mm the food consists largely of copepods. As 



