3 74 Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 



by smaller dark spots. Fins golden yellow; the margin of caudal paler than rest of fin. 

 Peritoneum black. 



Size. The largest example seen, taken at Beaufort, North Carolina, was 330 mm 

 (13.2 in.) TL. This is about equal to the usual length of fish that compose the fall and 

 winter runs of tyrannus in the same vicinity. 



Reproduction and Development. Nothing is known about reproduction in this species, 

 notwithstanding the fact that the eggs and young were sought diligently at Beaufort, 

 North Carolina, for about six years. The several adults taken there during spring and 

 summer and examined in the laboratory showed no signs of development. 



The smallest specimen at hand, 120 mm TL, differs from large ones in having 

 a deeper body and less strongly serrated scales. The last mentioned difference is quite 

 in keeping with other species of Brevoortia, for the serrations (pectinations) apparently 

 increase in length with age in all species. It has been pointed out that young adults 

 of patronus are quite as deep as large ones, which is contrary to the rule in tyrannus. 

 The very deep-bodied young adults of smitht suggest that the young of this species too 

 may acquire a deep body at an early age. 



Migrations and Habits. Yellowfin Shad were taken at Beaufort, where their oc- 

 currence was observed several years in succession. They seem to be present there only 

 during spring and summer and only in the local estuaries. If they occur off Beaufort 

 Inlet, where large tyrannus are taken, they escaped our nets. Although the fish probably 

 leave brackish water to spawn, the adults, contrary to those of tyrannus^ do frequent 

 brackish water during a portion of the year. 



According to fishermen at Beaufort, these Menhaden do not school. This was 

 confirmed by our investigations, for we took at most 10—12 a day in a pound net 

 operated for several years in the estuary of Newport River, and rarely were more than 

 two taken in a single haul with a large collecting seine. In contrast, hundreds of tyran- 

 nus^ if taken at all, generally were present when the pound net was fished. 



Yellowfin Shad are much more active fish than tyrannus. When they are caught 

 in a seine they dash here and there and strike the net again and again in an 

 effort to escape, whereas tyrannus generally strike the net once and then allow them- 

 selves to be hauled in without making a further effort to flee. The two species, when 

 once their habits are known, may be identified by their behavior when surrounded 

 by a seine. 



Food. These fish, like tyrannus and other species of menhaden, have a thick-walled 

 gizzard-like stomach and a long intestine. A fish 330 mm TL and 247 mm SL, for 

 example, had an alimentary canal 937 mm long; that is 380 "/o of its SL. The stomach 

 contents of this same specimen consisted of diatoms and spicules of a sponge. 



Parasites. Only one parasitic copepod {Lernaeenicus radians)^^ has been found on 

 these Menhaden. The conspicuous isopod Olencira praegustator, very common in the 

 mouth of tyrannus^ has not been seen thus far in smithi. 



Relationship. The differences between Brevoortia smithi and B. gunteri are given 



40. Identification by Paul L. Illg, at the U. S. National Museum. 



