FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
291 
eye, 1.35 to 2.85 in head; teeth in the jaws in bands, the outer ones in upper jaw somewhat 
enlarged; preopercle serrate; gill rakers very short, about six more or less developed on lower 
limb of first arch; scales small, firm, strongly ctenoid, not reduced in size on the breast; dorsal fins 
contiguous, the first with slender, flexible spines, the third one produced in the adult, reaching far 
beyond the anterior soft rays when deflexed, 3.1 to 3.85 in length in specimens 140 to 285 milli- 
meters long; soft dorsal rather long and low; caudal fin with concave upper lobe and somewhat pro- 
duced lower lobe, proportionately longer in young than in adult; anal fin moderate, with a single 
slender spine; ventral fins rather short, inserted about a half an eye’s diameter behind base of 
pectorals; pectoral fins reaching to or a little beyond tips of ventrals, 1 to 1.45 in head. 
Color dusky above, silvery underneath; some specimens much darker than others; sides with 
oblique bars running upward and backward; a horizontal stripe extending to end of lower lobe of 
caudal, often present on posterior part of body; two bars at nape running upward and forward, the 
second of these forming a V with the first bar on body; these markings are obscure on some individuals, 
often present on young as small as 30 millimeters in length; pectorals and spinous dorsal mostly 
black; other fins plain to dusky, varying among individuals. 
Many specimens, ranging in length from 18 to 285 millimeters to 11L( inches), were pre- 
served. The fishermen do not distinguish this fish from others of the genus and they are not sepa- 
rated in the market. The color markings, forming a dark or black V on anterior part of sides, 
usually distinguishes this species from its relatives in Chesapeake Bay. In the adult the produced 
third dorsal spine, which reaches far beyond the beginning of the second dorsal, separates this species 
from its relatives. Other small but constant differences appear to exist in the size of the scales and 
number of fin rays. The young do not differ greatly from the adults, as indicated in the description. 
Among 10 individuals, 9 had fed exclusively on crustaceans ranging in size from copepods to 
fairly large shrimp. One individual had fed on a squid. 
The eggs of this whiting were obtained and hatched by Welsh and Breder (1923, p. 190) . These 
authors, working at Atlantic City, N. J., state that spawning commences in June and continues 
until August. The eggs are reported to have an average diameter of 0.8 to 0.85 millimeter, being 
almost colorless, floating in sea water, and hatching in 46 to 50 hours in a water temperature of 68° 
to 70° F. The newly hatched fish were 2 to 2.5 millimeters in length. 
Young M. saxatilis were collected throughout the summer and fall, often in company with young 
M. americanus. Fish 16 millimeters in length were taken late in June. By late September the 
size ranged from 35 to 154 millimeters ( 1 % to 6 inches). During October fish 50 to 185 millimeters 
(2 to 7M inches) were caught in the lower bay, and at the same time another size group, which ranged 
from 8'y& to 11 inches in length, was present. All of the fish listed, with the exception of the last 
group, quite probably were the product of the previous spring and summer hatch. The group 
mentioned last no doubt consisted of older fish. 
This species is included in the discussion of commercial importance of the whiting, under 
americanus. The exact proportion of each species comprising the total catch is not known. M. 
saxatilis, however, is said to attain its greatest abundance north of Chesapeake Bay. 
The maximum size is about 3 pounds, but market fish usually range from to 1)^ pounds in 
weight. 
Habitat. — Cape Cod, Mass., to Florida; rarely northward to Casco Bay, Me. 
Chesapeake localities. — ( a ) Previous records: Southern part of Chesapeake Bay, mouth of the 
Potomac, Gunston Wharf, Va. ( b ) Specimens in collections: Crisfield, Md., Lower York River, 
Cape Charles, Buckroe Beach, Ocean View, and Lynnhaven Roads, Va. 
161. Menticirrhus americanus (Linnaeus). “Kingfish”; “Roundhead”; “Sea mullet”; “Sea 
mink”; Whiting; King whiting. 
Cyprinus americanus Linnaeus, Sj'st. Nat., ed. X, 1758, p. 321; Carolina. 
Menticirrhus aiburnus Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. II, p. 101; Bean, 1891, p. 89. 
Menticirrhus americanus Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 1474, PI. CCXXV, fig. 572; Evermann and Hildebrand, 1910, 
p. 162; Fowler, 1918, p. 18. 
Head 3.1 to 3.9; depth 3.56 to 4.1; D. X-I, 24 to 27; A. I, 7 (rarely I, 8); scales 86 to 90 
(counting vertical series between enlarged scale at upper angle of opercle and base of caudal). 
Body elongate, compressed; back elevated; ventral outline nearly straight; head low; snout 
