FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
189 
vember. It probably remains near shore during most of the winter, but part of them at least 
retire to deeper water during the period of low temperatures, as shown by the following beam- 
trawl catches made in various parts of the bay: December 9 and 10, 1915, depths 108 to 126 feet; 
January 15 to 20, 1914, depths 33 to 162 feet: February 14 to 19, 1922, depths 46 to 162 feet; Feb- 
ruary 18 to 22, 1914, depths 33 to 150 feet; March 7 to 10, 1915, depths 50 to 63 feet; and March 
21 to 23, 1914, depths 39 to 120 feet. Silversides were caught in many beam-trawl hauls during 
these winter months, but the aggregate catch was so small in comparison with the known abun- 
dance of the fish along shore during most of the year that it is doubtful if the deeper waters of the 
Fig. 104. — Menidia menidia. Recently hatched larva, 4 millimeters long 
bay can be considered a wintering ground. The silverside is gregarious, usually traveling in schools 
of a few dozen to several hundred fish. 
The largest silverside among many thousands taken in Chesapeake Bay was 5j/s inches in 
length. However, it rarely exceeds a length of 4)^ to 5 inches. Fish of this size could be utilized 
as food, but this is not done in the Chesapeake. It is of great economic importance as food for 
larger predatory fishes, however, notably of the striped bass. 
Habitat . — Nova Scotia to the east coast of northern Florida. The variety notata predominates 
north of Chesapeake Bay and menidia from the Chesapeake Bay southward. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: Havre de Grace, Baltimore, Riverside, lower 
Potomac, mouth of Rappahannock River, Fortress Monroe, Hampton, and Cape Charles city. 
(6) Specimens in collection: Many; from numerous localities from Havre de Grace, Md., to Cape 
Charles and Cape Henry, Va., throughout all months of the year; generally common, particularly 
southward. 
94. Menidia beryllina (Cope). Silverside. 
Chirostoma berrylinum Cope, Trans., Amer. Phil. Soc., 1866, p. 403; Potomac River, Washington, D. C 
Menidia beryllina Smith, 1892, p. 70, PI. XX; Smith and Bean, 1899, p. 185; Kendall, 1902, p. 260; Fowler, 1912, p. 54. 
Menidia gracilis Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 797; Evermann and Hildebrand, 1910, p. 160. 
Menidia gracilis beryllina Jordan and Evermann, 1896, p. 797, PI. CXXIV, fig. 338; Evermann and Hildebrand, 1910, p. 160. 
Head 3.9 to 4.7; depth 5.4 to 6.6; D. IV or V — I, 8 to 11 (usual formula IV or V — I, 9 or 10) ; 
A. 1, 14 to 20 (usual formula I, 15 to 18) ; scales 37 to 41(12 to 14 oblique rows on sides between upper 
angle of gill opening and base of spinous dorsal). Body slender, moderately compressed; caudal 
peduncle rather long, its depth 2.2 to 3.1 in head; head somewhat depressed above, narrower 
below; snout moderately pointed, its length 3.2 to 4.6 in head; eye 2.4 to 3.1; interorbital 3 to 4.1; 
mouth rather small, terminal, strongly oblique, moderately protractile; teeth in the jaws small, 
pointed, in very narrow bands; scales firm, with margins entire, extending somewhat on the base 
of caudal but not on base of soft dorsal and anal; origin of spinous dorsal equidistant from tip of 
snout and base of caudal, or somewhat nearer the latter; soft dorsal over middle of base of anal; 
caudal fin moderately forked; anal fin rather short, its base equal to or slightly longer than head; 
ventral fins rather small, inserted about equidistant from tip of snout and end of anal base; pectoral 
fins moderate, 1.15 to 1.45 in head. 
