196 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the middle of the dorsal; the fin is one half as long as the head. 

 The pectoral reaches the 14th series of scales of the lateral line; 

 its length is two thirds of that of the head. The anal is 

 moderately long and low; its longest ray about twice the length 

 of eye and one half the length of its base. The longest dorsal 

 ray equals postorbital part of head. The caudal is deeply 

 forked. There are 23 gill rakers below the angle of the first 

 arch. D. iii, 15; A. iii, 16. Scales 15-52 to 58. Scutes 20+13 to 14. 



The body is blue with reflections of green and gold; the lower 

 parts silvery. 



The golden shad or skipjack is a common inhabitant of the 

 Ohio and Mississippi valleys and the Gulf of Mexico. In Penn- 

 sylvania this fish is confined to the Ohio and its tributaries. It 

 prefers large streams. It has made its way into the Great lakes 

 through canals. The presence of the golden shad in the salt 

 water of the Gulf of Mexico was discovered by Silas Stearns 

 near Pensacola Fla. This species grows to a length of 18 inches. 



Unlike most other species of herring, this one, according 

 to observations of Prof. S. A. Forbes of Illinois, is predaceoufe, 

 feeding on other fishes. Two examples examined by him had 

 eaten gizzard shad, Dorosoina, and another one, individuals 

 of some unidentified fish. The young of the golden shad, 2J inches* 

 long, had consumed nothing but terrestrial insects, including 

 flies, small spiders, etc. 



As far ae I can learn it never ascends small streams. In the 

 lower part of the Mississippi valley it migrates into salt water. 

 In the upper portion of this region its permanent residence is 

 in fresh water. The name skipjack is given in allusion to its 

 habit of skipping along the surface of the water. 



The fish is full of small bones, and its flesh is reputed to be 

 tasteless and without value as food; yet Kirtland says it is 

 esteemed in Ohio as a good pan fish. In the water its move- 

 ments are graceful and active, and its peculiarity of leaping 

 above the surface when in pursuit of its prey is interesting and 

 unusual in this family. 



