FISHES OF NEW YORK 729 



than half its extent. The anterior part is blanched in this man- 

 ner. The dorsal fin very sensibly partakes of the lighter hue; 

 but its dark brown is tinctured with yellow, specially on the rays. 

 Something of the same kind, though less distinct, is observable 

 on the ventral fins, and on about a dozen rays of the anal. The 

 length of this individual was 5 inches and the breadth 3. Dr 

 De Kay obtained a specimen in April which was reversed and 

 double. " Its color on both sides was( uniform bronze, with a 

 white patch on its right side near the chin, almost entirely 

 denuded of scales; it had the singular protuberance over the 

 eye, noticed by Dr Mitchill in his melamogasterJ^ 



On the New Jersey coast young individuals are very common 

 in sunimer, but the adults are rarely found except in the winter. 



At Woods Hole Mass. this is a very abundant permanent resi- 

 dent, frequenting muddy or grassy bottoms. The average weight 

 of those taken in the immediate vicinity of the Fish Commission 

 station was only 1 pound, but larger fish are found in the deeper 

 water of the sound and bay. In October fish averaging 2 

 pounds and apparently migrating are taken with lines in Vine- 

 yard sound on sandy bottom. 



In the markets this species is extremely common in the winter 

 and spring months and the flesh is delicious even when the eggs 

 are nearly mature. It feeds on small shells, crabs and other 

 invertebrates living in the mud. When at rest it partly sub- 

 merges itself in the sand or mud, and changes its color to suit 

 its surroundings. 



In Long Island bays the flatfish spawns from February to the 

 end of March, and in July the young have attained to the length 

 of half an inch. At Woods Hole Mass. according to Dr Smith, it 

 spawns from February to April. On being transferred to tanks 

 containing running water, many deposit their eggs during the 

 night. The eggs are -3-0 of an inch in diameter and very glutinous, 

 sticking together in masses of various sizes. The average num- 

 ber to a fish is 500,000. Mar. 6, 1897, a fish that weighed 3^ 

 pounds after spawning furnished 30 fluid ounces of eggs, num- 

 bering 1,462,000. The eggs hatch in 17 or 18 days, when the 

 mean water temperature is 37° or 38° F. 



