216 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
The butterfish is a good pan fish and, particularly along the Atlantic coast, finds a ready sale. 
In the Chesapeake region it is frequently not separated from the starfish or harvest fish ( Peprilns 
alepidotus) , and the two are sold together. 
Habitat. — Nova Scotia to Florida. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: “* * * many parts of Chesapeake Bay, as 
far north as the Patapsco River.” (Uhler and Lugger, 1876); Cape Charles city, Va. (6) Speci- 
mens in collection and observed: At many localities from Annapolis southward to the capes. 
Family LIII. — CARANGID/E. The crevallies, pompanoes, elc. 
Body deep or elongate, usually more or less compressed; head compressed; mouth variable in 
size; premaxillaries usually protractile; maxillary with or without a supplemental bone; teeth 
variable, usually small, occasionally wanting in adult; gills, 4, a slit behind the fourth; pseudo- 
branchiae large, sometimes lost with age; branchiostegals commonly 7; scales small, cycloid, some- 
times embedded, occasionally obsolete; lateral line complete, usually with a prominent arch 
anteriorly, sometimes wholly or in part armed with bony scutes; dorsal fins 2; spinous dorsal rather 
weak, usually preceded by a procumbent spine; second dorsal long, usually more or less elevated 
anteriorly; caudal fin broadly forked; anal fin similar in form to second dorsal, sometimes much 
shorter, preceded by two strong spines, these sometimes disappearing with age; ventrals thoracic, 
I, 5; pyloric caeca generally numerous. 
KEY TO THE GENERA 
a. Shoulder girdle with a deep furrow near its juncture with the isthmus and a fleshy knob above 
it; eye large Selar, p. 217 
aa. Shoulder girdle normal, not as above; eye moderate. 
b. Anal fin much shorter than the second dorsal; body elongate, not strongly compressed; lateral 
line entirely unarmed Seriola, p. 217 
bb. Anal fin little, if any, shorter than second dorsal; body deep or elongate, rather strongly to 
very strongly compressed. 
c. Body elongate; scales linear, embedded, giving the skin a leathery appearance; premaxil- 
laries not protractile, except in very young Oligoplites, p. 219 
cc. Body deeper, moderately to very deep; scales small, round, not as above; premaxillaries 
protractile. 
'/. Back not much elevated; chest and abdomen deep; ventral outline much more strongly 
convex than the dorsal; lateral line unarmed; anterior rays of second dorsal and anal 
not produced Chloroscombrus, p. 220 
dd. Back notably elevated; ventral outline not more strongly convex than the dorsal. 
e. Pectoral fins rather long and pointed (except in very young); lateral line with a high 
arch anteriorly, armed with bony scutes posteriorly (obsolete in Selene). 
/. Body moderately elongate and not excessively compressed, the depth less than half 
the length of body; lateral line posteriorly strongly armed Caranx, p. 220 
ff. Body deep, ovate, very strongly compressed; the depth greater than half the length 
of body. 
g. Dorsal and ventral outlines both strongly convex; anterior rays of second dorsal 
and anal bearing long, threadlike filaments; bony scutes in straight part of 
lateral line well developed Alectis, p. 224 
gg. Dorsal outline much more strongly convex than the ventral; anterior rays of the 
second dorsal and anal produced or not, never bearing long, threadlike filaments. 
li. Anterior profile of head straight, oblique; anterior rays of the second dorsal and 
anal notably produced (except in very young) ; lateral line without definite 
bony scutes Selene, p. 224 
hh. Anterior profile of head nearly vertical, more or less concave in advance of eyes; 
none of the rays of the dorsal or anal produced; straight part of lateral line 
with small bony scutes _Vomer, p. 226 
ee. Pectoral fins always short, rarely exceeding length of postorbital part of head; lateral 
line not definitely arched anteriorly, unarmed Trachinotus, p. 227 
