FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
211 
Many specimens of this species, ranging from 25 to 175 millimeters (1 to 7 inches) in length, 
were preserved. This fish is recognized by its deep body and the anteriorly elevated dorsal and 
anal fins. The young do not differ markedly from the adults. They appear to be proportionately 
deeper, however, and the dorsal and anal fins are less strongly elevated anteriorly. Specimens 
vary considerably in color, some being plain grayish-silvery, with no yellow; others are greenish 
above and the lower parts of the sides are yellowish or golden. 
The food of this starfish appears to be identical with that of the butterfish. The stomach 
contents are always ground to pulp. Occasionally fish bones and scales are recognizable. 
Spawning appears to occur simultaneously with the butterfish— that is, during June and July 
and the eggs are similar, being spherical and approximately 1 millimeter in diameter. 
The smallest starfish taken during the present investigation (which probably were the result 
oi the same summer’s spawning) consisted of a lot of four specimens, ranging from 25 to 28 milli- 
meters (about 1 inch) in length. These fish were caught from July 25 to August 1, 1921, in the 
lower Rappahannock, along the shore. A gap occurs in the collections, however, for no young fish, 
were taken from the first of August until late in September, although intensive collecting was 
continued; those caught during the latter part of September and October ranged from 64 to 130 
millimeters (2J^ to 5 inches) in length. Only a few of the many that were collected exceeded a 
length of 4^ inches, and the average length was only 3^ inches. If the starfish spawns in Chesa- 
peake Bay, as seems to be indicated by the small fish taken during the latter part of July and early 
in August, it seems rather strange that no young fish were taken from the first of August until late 
in September. Fish ranging in length from 2J^ to 5 inches are abundant in October in the lower 
sections of the bay, and many of this size are often taken in pound nets. The fish within this range, 
of which numerous specimens were measured, may be separated into two definite size groups by 
means of plotting frequency curves, the break coming between 4 and 5 inches. The fish making 
up the group ranging around 5 inches in length are believed to be in their second year. 
The starfish is one of the Chesapeake’s valuable food fishes. During 1920 it ranked tenth in 
quantity and thirteenth in value, the catch being 319,681 pounds, worth $10,650. 
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