FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
305 
and the marketman. The majority of the Chesapeake catches consist of fish weighing from 3^ to 
3 pounds. Larger fish are often taken and are particularly common during the spring and late fall. 
For example, on May 26, 1921, 500 pounds of unusually large fish were taken from a pound net in 
Lynnhaven Roads. The 29 largest fish weighed 210 pounds, averaging about 7 pounds each, and 
the largest one weighed 11 pounds 14 ounces. The largest fish observed by us weighed 16 pounds 
and was taken in a pound net at Ocean View, Va., on May 27, 1921. Fish weighing 12 to 15 pounds 
are seen occasionally, and a weight of 6 to 10 pounds is not uncommon. The maximum size recorded 
is 30 pounds. (See Welsh and Breder, 1923, p. 158.) 
Habitat. — Massachusetts to the east coast of Florida; especially abundant from North Carolina 
northward. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: “Chesapeake Bay, near the ocean” (Uhler and 
Lugger, 1876); Cape Charles city and Norfolk, Va. ( b ) Specimens in collection: From many 
localities, from Annapolis, Md., southward to Cape Charles and Cape Henry. 
Comparison of lengths and weights of squeteagues 
Number of fish weighed and measured 
Length 
Weight 
Number of fish weighed and measured 
Length 
Weight 
3 
Inches 
3 
Ounces 
0.2 
7 
Inches 
13 
Lbs. Ozs. 
11.0 
7 
3 M 
4 
.3 
6 
1334 
14 
11.9 
6 
.4 
10 
13. 6 
9 
sy 2 
6 
.6 
5 
1434 
15 
15.7 
16 
.8 
2 
1 
.7 
11 - 
1. 1 
4 
1534 
16 
1 
2.3 
12 
6 >4 
m 
8 
1.4 
2 
1 
3.0 
17 - 
2.3 
3 
1634 
17 
1 
7.2 
37 - 
2.8 
4 
1 
8.3 
6 
sx 
9 
3.2 
4. 
1734 
18 
1 
9.4 
16 
4.0 
2 
1 
11.4 
12 
9 34 
10 
4.6 
4 
1834 
20 
1 
13.0 
33 
5.2 
1 
2 
6 
1034 
ii 
5.9 
2 
28 
9 
10 
6.7 
1 
30 
9 
10.0 
16 
ny 2 
12 
8. 1 
1 
31 
10 
10 
9.0 
1 
33 
ii 
14.0 
6 - 
12J4 
10.0 
Family LXXI— BRANCHlOSTEGIDiE. The tilefishes 
Body elongate, more or less compressed; anterior profile strongly convex; preopercle denticulate; 
vomer and palatines toothless; scales rather small; nape with a large fleshy appendage; labial folds 
with somewhat similar appendages at sides; soft dorsal and anal fins rather short, composed of about 
13 to 15 rays; ventral fins thoracic, composed of I, 5 rays. 
129. Genus LOPHOLATILUS Goode and Bean. Tilefishes 
Body stout, somewhat compressed; mouth moderate; maxillary reaching eye; each jaw with an 
outer series of canines and an inner band of villiform teeth; vomer and palatines toothless; nape with 
a high, fleshy appendage, resembling an adipose fin; lower jaw at sides with fleshy prolongations, 
extending backward beyond angle of mouth. 
166. Lopholatilus chamseleonticeps Goode and Bean. Tilefish. 
Lopholatilus chamseleonticeps Goode and Bean, Proc., 1J. S. Nat. Mus., II, 1879, p. 205; Nantucket Shoals. Jordan and 
Evermann, 1896-1900, p 2278. 
Head, 3; depth 3.5; D. VII, 14 or 15; A. 14 or 15; scales about 93. Body robust, somewhat 
compressed; head rather large, its upper profile strongly convex; snout rather blunt; eye small, 
placed high, 6.5 in head; mouth moderate; maxillary reaching eye; upper jaw with an outer series 
of strong canines and an inner band of villiform teeth; lower jaw with a series of large canines; 
dorsal fin continuous, the spines scarcely shorter than the soft rays; caudal fin rather deeply con- 
cave; anal fin about half as long as the dorsal; ventral fins inserted below the pectorals; pectoral 
fins pointed, notably shorter than head; nape with a finlike fleshy flap in front of dorsal; a similar 
but smaller fleshy flap on side of lower jaw, near angle of mouth. 
