FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
241 
100. Genus LEPOMIS Rafinesque. Common sunfishes 
Body ovate, quite strongly compressed; mouth moderate or small, terminal; maxillary narrow, 
not extending beyond pupil, with or without a small supplemental bone; no teeth on pterygoids or 
tongue, short or blunt teeth on the narrow pharyngeal bones; preopercular margin entire; opercle 
•ending in a more or less elongated, conspicuously colored flap; gill rakers usually short and feeble; 
dorsal with 10 spines; anal with 3 spines and much shorter than the dorsal; caudal fin emarginate. 
A single species of this genus was taken in the brackish waters of the Chesapeake. In the fresh 
waters the fishes of this genus are numerous, both as to species and individuals. Some of the 
species, especially the young, are difficult to distinguish. 
130. Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus). “Tobacco box;” Pumpkin seed; Sand perch; “Sunfish;” 
Bream. 
Perea gibbosus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. X, 1758, p. 292; Carolina. 
Lipomis aureus Uhler and Luggar, 1876, ed. I, p. 132. 
Pomotis aureus Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. II, p. 113. 
Lepomis gibbosus Bean, 1883, p. 365; Smith, 1892, p. 71. 
Eupomotis gibbosus Jordan and Evemiann, 1896, p. 1009, PI. CLXI, fig. 429; Smith and Bean, 1899, p. 186; Evermann and 
Hildebrand, 1920, p. 161; Fowler, 1912, p. 55. 
Head 2.75 to 3.35; depth 1.85 to 2.9; D. X, 10 to 12; A. Ill, 9 or 10, scales 34 to 40. Body 
deep, ovate, strongly compressed; head rather short; snout broad, its length 3.05 to 4.8 in head; 
•eye 3 to 4.3; interorbital 2.9 to 3.9; mouth small, oblique, terminal; maxillary scarcely reaching 
anterior margin of eye in some specimens, to anterior margin of pupil in others, 3.55 to 4 in head; 
preopercular margin entire; opercular flap very broad ; gill rakers very short, 9 to 1 1 more or less devel- 
oped on lower limb of first arch; scales of moderate size, firm, ctenoid; lateral line complete; dorsal 
fin long, its origin over or a little behind base of pectorals, the spinous portion longer than the soft 
part; caudal fin rather deeply emarginate; anal fin short, with three strong spines, the soft part 
similar to that of dorsal and coterminal with it; ventral fins moderate, reaching to vent, and in 
some specimens to or slightly beyond origin of anal, inserted somewhat behind base of pectorals, 
pectoral fins rather long, pointed, 1.05 to 1.4 in head. 
Color above greenish, variously spotted with brown and with bluish reflections; head mostly 
brassy, with irregular sky-blue lines under eye; opercular flap jet black, margined with scarlet; 
abdomen golden; dorsal and caudal mainly dusky; anal and ventrals more or less dusky yellowish; 
pectorals light yellowish. 
Many specimens of this common sunfish, ranging in length from 22 to 180 millimeters to 
7% inches), were preserved. 
This fish is not uncommon in the brackish waters in the northern sections of Chesapeake Bay, 
occurring at times in strongly brackish water. On September 6, 1921, at Thighmans Creek near 
Love Point, for example, 115 adults and 580 small fish were taken in eight hauls of a 30-foot collecting 
seine in brackish water. In the streams tributary to the bay it is among the commonest of species; 
and it is well known for its gameness and beauty, making it the joy of youthful anglers. 
The food of the tobacco box in the brackish waters of Chesapeake Bay, according to the con- 
tents of 65 stomachs, consists of the following, named in the order of their apparent importance: 
Isopods, annelids, amphipods, mollusks, and insect larvse. A comparatively large amount of 
vegetable debris also was present. However, it is uncertain whether this was eaten as food or 
obtained more or less by accident in the capture of small animal life. 
Spawning takes place in the spring and early summer. The breeding habits are described by 
Smith (1907, p. 243) as follows: 
The nest is a slight depression on the bottom, made by the fins, and after the eggs are laid and attached to stones or weeds, 
the male stands guard and repels intruding fishes or other animals; the care of the young also devolves on the male, which at this 
season is in his brightest colors and even in the water can be readily distinguished from his mate. 
Many of the specimens at hand have isopods ( Livoneca ovalis) attached to the gills. In the 
field hundreds of fish were examined, and at least 80 per cent of those found in brackish water 
bore this parasitic isopod. One or two, and sometimes three or four, were found on the gills on one or 
both sides. A number of sunfish found dead along the shore probably were killed by this large 
isopod, and the destruction from this cause may be large. 
