FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
267 
Chesapeake localities. — -(a) Previous records: Lower part of Chesapeake Bay (Uhler and Lug- 
ger, 1876) and Cape Charles city, Va. (6) Specimens in collection: Lower York River, Cape 
Charles, Buckroe Beach, Ocean View, and Lynnhaven Roads, Va. 
115. Genus ARCHOSARGUS Gill. Sheepshead 
Body rather robust, deep, compressed; mouth moderate; jaws anteriorly with broad incisors, 
with entire or only slightly notched margins; jaws laterally with coarse molars; posterior nostril 
slitlike; gill rakers very short; dorsal fin long, continuous, preceded by an antrorse spine; spines 
strong, the soft part shorter than the spinous portion; caudal fin slightly forked; anal fin with 
three strong spines, the second enlarged; ventral fins subthoracic. The Virginia specimens with 
broad, black crossbars. A single species occurs in Chesapeake Bay. 
147. Archosargus probatoceohalus (Walbaum). Sheepshead. 
Sparus probatocephalus Walbaum, Artedi Piscium, 1792, 295; New York. 
Archosargus probatocephalus Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 121; ed. II, p. 103; McDonald, 1882, p. 12; Bean, 1891, p. 9(1; 
Smith, 1892, p. 71; Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 1361, PI. CCXVI, fig. 554. 
Head 3.05 to 3.25; depth 1.9 to 2.4; D. XI or XII, 11 to 13; A. Ill, 10 or 11; scales 44 to 
49. Body deep, compressed; back elevated; head short, deep; snout short, 2.1 to 2.6 in head; 
eye 2.75 to 4.55; mouth moderate, nearly horizontal; maxillary reaching about to vertical from 
anterior margin of eye, 2.7 to 3.3; teeth in the jaws strong, anterior teeth incisorlike, the posterior 
teeth broad, strong molars; gill rakers short, six or seven on lower limb of first arch; scales finely 
serrate; dorsal fin with very strong spines, the spinous portion longer than the soft part; caudal 
fin with a shallow fork; anal fin with three spines, the second much enlarged, the soft part of fin 
similar to that of dorsal; pectorals long, 2.5 to 3.7 in length. 
Color greenish yellow; sides with seven black crossbars; dorsal, anal, and ventral fins mostly 
dusky or black; caudal and pectoral fins greenish. 
The foregoing description is based upon specimens from Beaufort, N. C., ranging in length 
from 20 to 240 millimeters (% to inches). Only a few very small specimens were preserved 
from Chesapeake Bay, as the large individuals seen were too bulky to preserve conveniently and 
no intermediate sizes were taken. This species, the only one of the genus occurring in Chesapeake 
Bay, usually is easily recognized by its color, entire incisor teeth, and large size. 
The sheepshead feeds mainly on mollusks and crustaceans, for the crushing of which its teeth 
are well adapted. Relative to spawning, Smith (1907, p. 301) says: “ At the spawning season, which 
is in spring, the sheepshead swim in schools and appear to prefer sandy shores. The eggs are about 
9 -o 
