FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
79 
A single specimen 565 millimeters (2234 inches) in length was taken during the present investi- 
gations. This fish and a smaller one from the St. Johns River, Fla., form the basis for the above 
description. The big-eyed herring, like the common fresh-water eel (and other eels), passes through 
a metamorphosis. The young, or larvce, are similar to the leptocephalus of the eels, being greatly 
compressed, more or less ribbon-shaped, and transparent. 
The big-eyed herring is readily recognized by the elongate form, low head, large mouth, and 
the broadly forked tail. This fish, like the tarpon, has a gular plate. The Atlantic and Pacific 
coast forms of this genus were long regarded as identical, but comparatively recent investigations 
have shown that the Atlantic representatives constantly have fewer gill rakers on the lower limb 
of the first arch. The range for the Atlantic species in this respect is 11 to 14, while that for the 
Pacific form is 18 to 20. 
The food and feeding habits of this fish have not been studied thoroughly. It undoubtedly 
is carnivorous. Smith (1907, p. 116) says: “A specimen examined at Beaufort in August, 1901, 
had in its stomach six large shrimp (Peneus).” 
The spawning habits of this fish, too, are imperfectly known, but it is probable that spawning 
takes place out at sea and that the eggs are pelagic. The larvae, like the leptocephalus of the eel, 
are pelagic. These more oceanic allies of the herrings do not migrate to fresh water to spawn, as 
already stated, but individuals are not infrequently taken in brackish water. 
The maximum size attained by the big-eyed herring is 3 feet (Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, 
p. 410), but the average size probably does not exceed 20 inches. This fish is evidently rather 
rare in Chesapeake Bay, since only a single specimen was taken during the present investigation 
Fig. 40 . — Elops saurus 
and as fishermen report it as rare. “ The species has no food value, the flesh being dry and bony.” 
(Smith, 1907, p. 116.) Aside from the qualities of its flesh, it obviously is too rare in Chesapeake 
Bay to be of commercial importance in that vicinity. 
Habitat . — The Atlantic coast, from Massachusetts to Brazil. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: “Enters our large rivers from the salt waters of 
Chesapeake Bay, but seems to be quite common.” (Uhler and Lugger, 1876) ; Cape Charles, Va. 
(Bean, 1891). (6) Specimen in collection: Lynnhaven Roads, September 17, 1921, taken in a 
pound net. 
Family XIX.— MEGALQPID/E. The tarpons; The grande-ecailles 
This family, as here understood, differs from the Elopidse in the large scales, absence of pseudo- 
branchife, and in the greatly produced (filamentous) last ray of the dorsal fin. 
23. Genus TARPON Jordan and Evermann. The tarpon 
Body oblong, rather strongly compressed; mouth large, very oblique, the lower jaw strongly 
projecting; maxillary broad, extending beyond eye; pseudobranchise wanting; lateral line decurved; 
scales very large, not forming a sheath on dorsal or anal; axil of pectoral and anal with a moderately 
large accessory scale; dorsal fin anteriorly elevated, the last rays of fin produced, filamentous; 
anal fin similar but larger, the last ray not notably produced; ventrals inserted well in advance of 
dorsal. 
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