134 



•with a greenisli tinge; abdcJiiieii pearly; top of head and Lack 

 "bluish. A black blotch of considerable size at the hind angle 

 •of the operculum. Length, 20 inches. 



Fin-rays:— D. 17—19; P. 10; V. 9; A. 20—22; C. 20. 



Two young specimens Avero caught May Yth, by Major T. 

 B. Ferguson, near the mouth of Elk Kiver. The measure- 

 ments were as follows, — Total length to tip of caudal fin 5 

 inches; greatest width 1|- inches; length of head 1| inches. 

 Head contained 3| times in the length of the body excluding 

 €audal fin. Color silvery, back olive. 



Clupea sapidisslina, Wilson, in Rees' Xew Cyclopaulia, Ist 

 Amer. Ed. Art. Clujjea. 



Alosa sapidissima, Storer, Synops. p. 458, No. 1. 



This is the American Shad so highly prized by Maryland- 

 er's of the tide-water districts. It is the most savory of all 

 our fishes, and Avas formerly common in all the rivers empty- 

 ing into the Chesapeake Bay on the Western shore, and in 

 the principal ones of the Eastern shore. 



The principal fisheries of it are now in the Susquehanna, 

 Potomac and Chester Eivers, although smaller numbers are 

 taken in the Patuxent and Severn. It has been almost 

 cleared out of the Patapsco River, although a few stragglers 

 venture up to get beyond tide during almost every spring. 

 There are several ''runs" of this fine fish in the lower Poto- 

 mac River, which follow cacli other at intervals of a few days. 



Acad. Coll. S. I. 



OPISTIIONEMA, Gill, 



0. thrissa. 



Herring, oi Thread Henino;, 



Body compressed, elliptical. The height of the body i,s 

 one-third of the total length (without caudal,) the length of 

 the head rather less than one-fourth. Lower jaws but slightly 

 prominent. Abdomen with fourteen projections like saw- 

 teeth. Bluish above, with an indistinct bluish spot on the 

 shoulder; each scale on the back Avith a dark spot, the spots 

 forming longitudinal series. Last dorsal ray produced into 

 a long filament. Length, 8 to 12 inches. 



Fin-rays:— D, 19; P, 18; V. 8; A. 23—24; C. 19. 

 0. tJirissa, Osbeck, Reise p. 336. 

 Melttta thrissa, Cuv. & Yal., XX. p. 380. 

 Clmtoes-'ius signifer, DeKav, New York Faun., Fish. p. 2G4. 

 pl.'41, fig. 132. 



