360 EEPOET OF XEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Brevoortia tyrannus (Latrobe). 

 ■ Mossbunker. 



Color, when fresh, of a young example, deep steel-pluinl»eons to 

 slaty, blackish or neutral-blackish on back. Line of demarcation from 

 about level with upper margin of eye to about middle of base of upper 

 caudal lobe rather distinct, and all about with pale tints or nebulae 

 of pale indigo. Rest of side and entire lower surface, inclusive of 

 lower surface of head also, and iris, bright silvery to mercury-white. 

 Upper surface of head becoming pale and translucent grayish on 

 snout and front of mandible. All this region also finely dotted with 

 dusky. Dorsal and caudal pale translucent grayish, finely dotted with 

 darker. Other fins pale translucent whitish. Length 2 °/.^q inches. 

 A single example taken at Corson's Inlet on January 14th, 1908, in a 

 hauling-seine. W. J. Fox and D. McCadden. 



Menhaden were so abundant in the latter part of August, 1908, that 

 they ran in Tuckerton Creek and the tributaries of Little Egg Har- 

 bor and Tuckerton Bay, so that large numbers were captured for 

 fertilizers. This was thought to be due to the blue fish forays, the 

 latter also running in in numbers, some being taken inside. J. A. G. 

 Rehn. 



Family DOROSOMATID^. 



Dorosoma cepedianum (Le Sueur). 

 Gizzard Shad. 



Several mud shad were taken in Raccoon Creek, near Bridgeport, 

 Gloucester county, according to the fishermen, in March of 1908. 

 They are not valued in any way. 



Mr. J. B. Vanderveer, of Trenton, says they occur mostly in muddy 

 jDonds and in some instances have been taken in such places by the 

 boat-load. Though of no use as a food-fish, they have been sold as 

 "bitter heads" or "poor soles," as low-grade fish. They are not a 

 very hardy species, and resort to the mud in cold weather, where they 

 stay all winter. They feed on the ends of decayed channel grass or 

 candocks in winter. In warm weather they take their prey at the sur- 

 face of the water like a small rock, and w411 then also take a hook 



