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I 
t 
THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. a 
tractile, its border formed by premaxillaries behind which are 
broad maxillaries. Large sharp teeth of unequal size on both 
jaws and palatines. No teeth on vomer, usually a very strong 
sharp canine near tip of lower jaw. Opercular bones without 
spines or serratures. Gill-openings wide, gill-membranes not 
united, free from isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind fourth.  Gill- 
rakers very short or obsolete. Pseudobranchiz well developed. 
Branchiostegals 7. First superior pharyngeal not present, second, 
third and fourth separate, with teeth. Lower pharyngeals sepa- 
rate. Air-vessel large, bifurcate anteriorly. Many pyloric cceca. 
Vertebree 24. Body covered with small cycloid scales. Head 
scaly above and on sides. Lateral line well developed, straight. 
First dorsal, over ventrals, of V rather stout spines. Second 
dorsal remote from first dorsal, similar to anal and opposite to it. 
Caudal forked. Pectorals short, placed in or below line of axis 
of body. Ventrals I, 5, abdominal, in advance of middle of body. 
Large carnivorous pike-like fishes, active, voracious, in warm 
seas, and many highly valued as food. ‘Two species occasionally 
on our shores. 
Genus Sean Bloch and Schneider. 
The Barracudas. 
Key to the species. 
a. Scales large, about 84 in lateral line. : BARRACUDA 
aa. Scales small, 115 to 130. BOREALIS 
Sphyrzena barracuda (Walbaum). 
Head 234 ; depth 7% ; D. V—II, 7; A. 11, 7; scales about 84 in 
lateral line to base of caudal, 5 more on latter; 6 scales obliquely 
back from origin of dorsal to lateral line; 12 scales obliquely up 
from root of ventral to lateral line; third dorsal spine 3% in 
head; first dorsal ray 4%; first anal ray 114 ; lower caudal lobe 
about 2; pectoral 3% ; ventral 4; least depth of caudal peduncle 
634. Body rather robust, greatest depth at origin of ventral. 
Head large. Snout long, tapering from rather deep base. Eye 
circular, its front margin about center in length of head. Maxil- 
