164 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
large fish are discarded by the freezers, who state that the western demand is only for “pan size” 
fish of about 8 to 14 ounces. So abundant is the silver hake at Provincetown that the mackerel 
freezers will accept only 35 barrels a day from each fishing crew (who usually operate 3 to 6 wiers) ; 
and when cold-storage space becomes scarce no more are accepted. The surplus silver hake are 
allowed to escape through a hole cut in the trap near the surface, an operation we saw repeatedly 
in June, 1925. The flesh of the silver hake is very sweet when fresh but it softens quickly, which 
greatly lessens its value. 
The maximum size is said to be 8 pounds, but fish over 4 pounds are rare. The usual length 
of adults is 14 to 24 inches. 
Habitat . — Off Newfoundland to the Bahama Islands; most common between Cape Sable and 
Cape Cod; not recorded from the coast south of Virginia; taken off the New England coast from the 
shore line to a depth of about 300 fathoms, off Chincoteague, Va., in 90 and 190 fathoms, and only 
in deep water in the vicinity of the Bahama Islands. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: None. Once recorded from Cedar Island, Va., 
which is on the eastern shore of the peninsula. (6) Specimens in the collection or observed in the 
field: Off Barren Island, Md., Ocean View, Lynnhaven Roads, and off Cape Henry Lighthouse, Va. 
Order HETEROSOMATA. The flat fishes 
Family XXXIX.-PIEURONECTID/E . 13 The flounders 
Body much compressed, deep, and more or less oval in shape; eyes and color on one side, the 
skull being twisted, the fish swimming in the water horizontally, with the blind side down; pre- 
maxillary protractile; gills 4; pseudobranchise present; preopercular margin more or less distinct 
and not concealed by skin; air bladder wanting; vent close behind the head; lateral line rarely absent, 
extending on caudal fin when present; scales various, usually small; dorsal fin long, beginning on 
head, composed of soft rays only; anal similar but shorter; caudal fin sometimes continuous with 
dorsal and anal; ventral fins small, one of them sometimes wanting; pectoral fins rarely absent, 
placed rather high on the sides. The family is composed of many genera and numerous species. 
Some of them are important food fishes. Only two of the seven species from Chesapeake Bay, dis- 
cussed in the following pages, are locally of economic importance. 
KEY TO THE GENERA 
a. Ventral fins similar in position and shape, or at least lateral ; neither on the ridge of the abdomen. 
b. Mouth large; maxillary reaching beyond lower eye; eyes and color on the left side, 
Paralichthys, p. 165 
bb. Mouth small; maxillary about reaching lower eye; eyes and color on the right side. 
c. Lateral line anteriorly with a distinct arch; body thin Limanda, p. 167 
cc. Lateral line not arched; body notably thicker Pseudopleuronectes, p. 168 
aa. Ventral fins dissimilar in position and shape, the one of the eyed side being longer and inserted 
on the ridge of the abdomen. 
d. Lateral line strongly arched anteriorly; anterior rays of dorsal fin rather high and distally 
free and branched Lophopsetta, p. 171 
dd. Lateral fine nearly straight; anterior rays of dorsal fin not elevated, not free and not 
evidently branched. 
e. Body oval, with the eyes and color on the left side Etropus, p. 172 
ee. Body quite elongate, with the eyes and color on the right side, 
Neoetropus gen. nov., p. 174 
13 We have examined the recent works of Regan (1910, pp. 484 to 496) and Jordan (1923, pp. 166 to 169), in which these authors 
subdivide the large family, Pleuronectidae, as previously understood, into several smaller families. However, we prefer to leave 
the large family intact until more information relative to the merits of the characters upon which the separations are made is avail- 
able and until the families can be described more adequately. 
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