280 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Many specimens of this species, ranging in length from 22 to 225 millimeters to 8 % inches), 
were preserved. The young do not differ greatly from the adults. Very young of 22 millimeters 
in length are rather deeper and more strongly compressed anteriorly than the adults. Fish of this 
size are largely pale in color, with dusky punctulations and a dark spot on the opercle at the upper 
posterior angle. Fish 40 millimeters and upward in length are colored essentially like the adult and 
are very similar in form and general appearance. This fish is readily recognized by its plain colora- 
tion, yellowish caudal fin, rather deep, compressed body, its oblique terminal mouth, and serrated 
preopercle. 
The food of this fish in Chesapeake Bay, as shown by the stomach contents of 100 specimens 
examined, consists very largely of small and minute crustaceans. Foods of much less importance 
are annelids and fish, Only two individuals of the entire lot examined had fed on fish. 
Spawning takes place in late spring and early summer. Ripe fish of both sexes were trawled 
in 12 fathoms off Crisfield as early as May 16. Many fish had already spawned by June 11. The 
eggs are small and are produced in large numbers. A single apparently nearly ripe female, 140 
millimeters long, taken in Lynnhaven Roads on May 9, 1921, con- 
tained approximately 52,800 eggs. The embryology and larval 
development of this species has been described by Kuntz (1914, 
pp. 4—13) from material secured at Beaufort, N. C. The eggs 
are described, as being spherical in form and 0.7 to 0.8 milli- 
•vvW .* ) 
l 
Fig. 160.— Egg recently fertilized, with 
fully developed blastodisc 
Fig. 161.— Newly hatched larva, 1.8 millimeters long 
meter in diameter, pelagic, and hatched at laboratory temperature in about 18 hours. At 
the time of hatching the larvae are 1.5 to 1.8 millimeters in length. By the time the young 
fish reaches a length of 30 millimeters the fins are fully differentiated, the body is covered 
with small, deeply embedded scales, and they show many of the diagnostic characters of the adult. 
9 0V 
