Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 295 



Alosa sapidissima (Wilson) 1 8 1 1 

 American Shad, Atlantic Shad, Shad, Common Shad, White Shad 



Figures 69—74 



Study Material. At least 75 specimens, 35-580 mm TL, 29-475 mm SL, from 

 St. Andrews Bay, New Brunswick; Flag Island, Eastport, and Portland, Maine; 

 Holyoke and Woods Hole, Massachusetts; Noank, Connecticut; Long Island, and 

 Gravesend Bay, New York; Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey; Delaware City, Delaware; 



Figure 71. Alosa sapidissima, adult male, 480 mm TL, 19.13 inches, Norfolk, Virginia, USNM 25099. 

 Drawn by H. L. Todd. 



many places In Chesapeake Bay and tributary streams; Avoca and Beaufort, North 

 Carolina; and New Berlin, Florida. 



Distinctive Characters. For the features that distinguish the true shads (Alosa) 

 from their close relatives, and for the difference between sapidissima and alabamae, see 

 Key to Species, p. 294, as well as pp. 293, 304, 309, 310. 



Unlike the adult with its toothless jaws and a median indentation in the upper jaw, 

 young of 1 50 mm and less lack the indentation on the upper jaw and have minute teeth 

 in the jaws. Therefore the jaw and tooth characters of the adult cannot be used in 

 identifying the young. However, the deep narrow cheek as well as the slender mandible 

 with its upper margin not rising abruptly to form an angle in the mouth will aid in 

 separating young sapidissima from young and adult alewives of the genus Pomolobus 

 (Fig. 69). 



Description. Proportional dimensions in per cent of standard length, and counts, 

 based on study specimens 29— 475 mm SL. 



Body: depth 30.2-36.8. 

 Caudal peduncle: depth 7.7—10. 



Head: length 23-28. 

 Snout: length 4.85-7.1. 



