Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 



315 



Pomolobus chrysochloris Rafinesque^" 1820 

 Skipjack Herring, Skipjack, Golden Shad, Blue or Green Herring, River Herring 



Figures 76, 78 



Study Material. A total of 32 or more specimens, i 15-420 mm TL, 95-341 mm 

 SL; from Pensacola, Florida; Wetumpka, Montgomery, and Wheeler Reservoir, 

 Alabama; Pascagula, Chickasawhay River, Pearl River, Eagle Lake, and Vicksburg, 

 Mississippi; shrimp grounds (trawl) in Louisiana waters, Pass Manchac, and borrow 



Figure 78. Pomolobus chrysochloris, 320mm TL, Pensacola, Florida, USNM 30159. Drawn by S.Stearns. 



pits in Mississippi River at Lake Providence, Louisiana; Mustang Island (Gulf side), 

 Texas; St. Francis River, Mississippi River, Miles County, Arkansas; Lexington, 

 Missouri; Mississippi River, Keokuk, and Fairport, Iowa; Cairo and Mississippi River, 

 Victory, Wisconsin; and Fort Snelling, Minnesota; mostly in USNM, but some 

 loaned by Miss Fannye A. Cook, Mississippi Game and Fish Commission, Percy 

 Viosca, Southern Biological Supply Co., and Reeve M. Bailey, University of Michigan. 

 Distinctive Characters. P. chrysochloris is closely related to P. mediocris, the hickory 

 shad, of the Atlantic coast; the principal differences are indicated in the account 



30. Although this species has long been considered the genotype of Pomolobus, it may be questioned with good reason 

 whether Rafinesque's descriptions of the genus and species are based on the Skipjack Herring or the Alabama shad, 

 Alosa alabamae, or on both. If Rafinesque had both species, as suggested by his accounts, he confused them. In his 

 generic account he said "Jaws without teeth." This is true of adult Alabama shad but not of the Skipjack. In fact, 

 the latter has such prominent teeth in the lower jaw that they would scarcely be overlooked. Furthermore, in the 

 specific account Rafinesque used the local name, Ohio shad, together with Gold shad and Green herring. Present- 

 day fishermen certainly distinguish the two species and refer to A. alabamae as the shad and to P. chrysochloris as 

 the herring (generally with a modifier, such as blue, green, or river). 



When listing local names, Rafinesque remarked : "A fine fish from twelve to eighteen inches long. Flesh esteemed, 

 white and less bony than the shad." The comparison evidently is with the American shad. The remark concerning 

 the flesh seems to suit the Alabama shad, but not the Skipjack. On the other hand, the size given is more nearly that 

 of the Skipjack than that of the shad; yet an i8-inch Skipjack would be an exceptionally large one. It is evident, 

 then, that one cannot be certain as to the species on which Rafinesque's descriptions were based. Because of the 

 doubt involved, it seems advisable to continue the use of Pomolobus chrysochloris for the Skipjack Herring. To do 

 otherwise would lead to great confusion of both generic and specific names. 



