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BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FIS HER IES 
covering the soft dorsal and anal; lateral line nearly straight, extending on base of caudal; first dorsal 
composed of very slender spines; second dorsal and anal similar, slightly elevated anteriorly; caudal 
fin forked; ventral fins inserted a little behind base of pectorals, notably shorter than postorbital 
part of head; pectoral fins short, 1.65 to 1.9 in head. 
Color in life, of a fish 13 inches long, greenish above; silvery below; first dorsal and caudal dusky; 
second dorsal olive green; anal white along base, distal half translucent, with punctulations; ventrals 
white; pectorals yellowish green, with dark bases. 
This fish is represented in the collection by many small specimens ranging in length from 70 
to 265 millimeters (234 to 1034 inches). The bluefish is related to the family of crevallies and 
pompanos, from which it is distinguished, however, by the serrate preopercle, the rather large 
unequal teeth, and the stouter caudal peduncle. 
The bluefish is a voracious feeder, being highly predatory on other fishes. Schools of bluefish 
are known to follow schools of menhaden and other fish, and after they have fed to the fullest extent 
of their capacity they still continue in the destruction of the fish, killing many more than they 
require for their own support. Nine small specimens, of which the stomach contents were examined 
in the laboratory, had fed almost exclusively on silversides. Others examined in the field had eaten, 
in addition to silversides, young gizzard shad (Dorosoma). 
Nothing definite regarding the spawning habits of the bluefish has been published, and we are 
able to add but little. On June 8, Mr. Radcliffe saw a ripe male, which had been caught in a pound 
net at Lynnhaven Roads, Va., and the same investigator saw another there on July 15. It is 
probable, therefore, that spawning takes place in summer. Smith (1907, p. 216) states that the 
bluefish probably spawns offshore in summer. 
Little is known of the rate of growth of the bluefish. Many young, 4 to 8 inches long, were 
taken daily throughout October. Fish 9 to 11 inches long were less common, but many ranging from 
12 to 14 inches were caught and marketed in the lower bay later in the fall. The last-mentioned 
group may be one year older than the smallest group, or if fish 4 to 12 inches in length are the pro- 
duct of the same year it must be assumed that spawning is protracted or growth irregular. 
The bluefish, among the fishes of Chesapeake Bay, ranked seventeenth in quantity in 1920 
and sixteenth in value, the catch being 51,968 pounds, valued at $7,037. 
In Maryland it ranked fifteenth in quantity and tenth in value, the catch amounting to 14,989 
pounds, worth $2,112. Of this amount, 70 per cent were caught in gill nets, 24 per cent in pound 
nets, 3 per cent in purse seines, 2 per cent in haul seines, and 1 per cent with lines. The counties 
having the largest catches were Talbot, 7,200 pounds; Kent, 3,350 pounds; and Somerset, 1,769 
pounds. 
In Virginia it ranked sixteenth both in quantity and in value, the catch amounting to 36,979 
pounds, worth $4,925. Of this amount, 52 per cent were taken in pound nets, 40 per cent in gill 
nets, 6 per cent in haul seines, and 2 per cent with lines. The counties catching the largest quantities 
were Northampton, 17,493 pounds; Elizabeth City, 6,870 pounds; and Mathews, 3,556 pounds. 
The bluefish is one of the most valuable fish taken along the Atlantic coast and is everywhere 
highly esteemed. It enters Chesapeake Bay each season, its movements and abundance, however, 
varying considerably from year to year. 
It is stated by many of the fishermen that large bluefish were plentiful 20 years ago, whereas 
now the fish is scarce and only small ones enter the bay. According to these fishermen, years ago 
