FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
177 
This sole, although common, has no commercial value and is discarded by the fishermen of 
Chesapeake Bay. The flesh is said to be well flavored. Apparently, however, because of the small 
size attained, this fish is seldom eaten. The name “hog choker” is reported to have originated 
from the fact that hogs, which in some sections feed on the fish discarded on the beaches, have 
great difficulty in swallowing this sole, because of the extremely hard, rough scales, and are said to 
choke on them. 
Habitat . — Massachusetts to the Atlantic coast of Panama. 
Chesapeake localities . — (a) Previous records: Havre de Grace, Md., Potomac River and several 
tributaries, Cape Charles city and Norfolk, Va. ( b ) Specimens in collection: From numerous 
localities from Havre de Grace, Md., to the capes; taken along the shores in the summer and in 
deeper waters during the winter. 
Family XLL — CYNOGLOSSIBjE. The tongue fishes 
Body elongate; eyes and color sinistra! (i. e., on the left side); caudal fin joined to the dorsal 
and|anal; ventral fins, if present, free from the anal; pectoral fins wanting. 
65. Genus SYMPHURUS Rafinesque. Tongue fishes 
Body quite elongate; eyes and color on the left side; eyes small, very close together, without a 
distinct interorbital ridge; mouth rather small, twisted toward the blind side; teeth minute, in 
Fig. 91 . — Symphurus plagiusa 
villiform bands; gill openings rather small; the membranes joined below, free from the isthmus; 
scales ctenoid; lateral line wanting; vertical fins confluent; a single ventral fin present, situated on 
the ridge of the abdomen; pectoral fins wanting, at least in the adult. A single species of this genus 
comes within the scope of the present work. 
85. Symphurus plagiusa (Linnseus). Sole; Tongue fish. 
Pleuronedes plagiusa Linnseus, Syst. Nat., ed. XII, 1766, p. 455; probably Charleston, S. C. 
Aphoristic. plagiusa Bean, 1891, p. 84. 
Symphurus plagiusa Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 2710, PI. CCCLXXXVIII, fig. 950. 
Head 5.15 to 5.95; depth 2.9 to 3.3; D. 85 to 91; A. 69 to 75; scales 74 to 79. Body quite elon- 
gate; dorsal and ventral outlines about evenly convex; tail tapering; head short; snout blunt, 3.95 
to 4.9 in head; eye small, 5.8 to 7.6; interorbital very narrow; mouth small, nearly horizontal; 
maxillary weakly developed, extending under lower eye, 3.25 to 4.6 in head; teeth in jaws small, 
in villifoim bands, present principally on blind side; gill membranes broadly united; lateral line 
wanting; scales small, ctenoid; origin of dorsal slightly in advance of upper eye; dorsal and anal 
fin continuous with the pointed caudal; origin of anal slightly behind margin of gill opening; a single 
ventral fin present, situated on ventral ridge; pectoral fins wanting. 
Color in life of a specimen 7% inches long: Brownish above, with 6 or 7 broad, dark crossbars 
extending from halfway to entirely across back; fins spotted with dusky markings. In some pre- 
served specimens the crossbars have disappeared and the fins are plain. 
