208 



FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



Diagnosis. — Depth varying with age, .5 total length in adult, equal to length in young; 

 head .33 length; a sharp keel on occiput; mouth horizontal in adult, oblique in young; lateral 

 line with a wide arch anteriorly, the plates on posterior part numbering about 12; dorsal rays 

 VI + 1,19; anal rays ii + i,16; pectorals! falcate, longer than head; ventrals broad. Color: above 

 bluish, below golden yellow; a dark blotch on opercle, another on dorsal, and another on ar.al. 

 {ciliaris, with long threads or lashes.) 



Fig. 86. Thread-fish. Aledis ciliaris. 



From the tropical seas this species ranges northward on our east coast as far 

 as Massachusetts; it is, however, not common north of Florida. At Beaufort a 

 few specimens are taken nearly every year in summer and fall. The largest seen 

 there are 12 inches long, which is about the maximum size of the species. The 

 names "moon-fish" and "shoemaker" are applied to this species in the Beau- 

 fort region, the former name being shared by several related fishes. 



The dorsal and anal rays in the thread-fish are enormously extended, 

 especially in the smaller individuals, and must at times prove a decided incon- 

 venience. Two specimens 8 inches long taken at Beaufort September 14, 1904, 

 by Mr. S. G. Worth had dorsal and anal filaments 15 inches long. 



Genus VOMER Cuvier & Valenciennes. Moon-fishes. 

 Body ovate, much compressed, forehead gibbous, lateral line strongly 

 arched anteriorly, weak plates on the lateral line posteriorly, scales rudimentary, 

 anterior dorsal obsolete, soft dorsal and anal low. In young, the form is deeper 

 and the fins are higher. Several American species, one occurring in United 

 States waters. (Vomer, plowshare, in allusion to the shape of the body.) 



