74 



FISHES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK 



by the presence of a single mackerel-like finlct behind the second dorsal 

 and the anal fins. This species as well as the Goggle-eyed Scad has the 

 scutes rather weak and restricted to the posterior portion of the lateral 

 line. The latter has very large eyes and may be recognized by a deep 

 cross furrow in the shoulder girdle above which is a fleshy projection. 

 These structures may be seen by lifting the gill-covers. Both Scad and 

 Gogf^le-eyed Scad are sometimes numerous in summer though of irregular 

 occurrence. The Jackfish and Hardtail are somewhat larger species. 

 The breast in the former is without scales except for a small central 



patch. There are about twenty-five scutes, and there is usually a round 

 black spot on the basal portion of the pectoral fin. The Hardtail has 

 about forty scutes and the breast is completely covered with smaU 

 scales. The Jackfish is tolerably common in late summer and autumn 

 and the Hardtail of similar occurrence though in less abundance. The 

 Bumper is a somewhat similar fish but with the scutes so little developed 

 as to be scarcely evident. It is very much compressed with the lower 

 outline markedly more curved than the upper. This gives it a peculiar 

 appearance and will facihtate its recognition. The upper part of its 

 caudal peduncle is dusky in color which often makes a rather striking 

 mark. Allied to Jackfish and Hardtail are three species of very much 

 flattened, small, silvery fishes, a few of which reach our waters each 

 summer or autumn from the south. The specimens captured are usually 

 small, often no larger than a silver dollar. Those of the Moonfish have 

 short fins whereas the Lookdown has at least two streamers from above 

 and below, the lobes of the soft dorsal and anal fin being thus produced 

 in the adult, whereas the young also have one or two of the dorsal spines 



