FISHES FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF WOODS HOLE. 
91 
ALBULID2E The Lady-Fishes. 
33 . Albula vulpes (Linnseus). Lady-fish,; Bonefish. (*) 
Very rare. Reported by Professor Baird in 1871, and since observed only once or twice. None 
seen for many years. 
CLUPEIDiE. The Herrings. 
34 . Etrumeus sadina (Mitchill). Round Herring. (*) 
Apparently rare. Known to have been found on only a few occasions. Some years ago, in Octo- 
ber, several were taken in traps at Menemsha Bight. 
35 . Clupea harengus Linnaeus. Sea Herring ; “Herring”; “Sperling” (young). (* t) 
Schools of large herring, in a spawning condition, appear about October 15 and remain till very 
cold weather sets in, their departure corresponding with that of cod. By January young herring 
\ inch long are taken in surface tow nets; by May 1 they are 1 to 1J inches long, and by August 1 they 
have attained a length of 2-£ to 3 inches. Fish 3 to 5 inches long, called “sperling,” are found from 
September 1 to end of season and are used for mackerel bait. About June 1 there is a large run of 
herring, smaller than those in the fall run. This lasts two weeks, during which the traps are full of 
them. No use is made of the early run, but in fall they are caught in gill nets for food and bait. 
36 . Clupanodon pseudohispanicus (Poey). Spanish Sardine. (*t) 
First seen in 1892, when it was abundant throughout the region. It appeared at Menemsha in 
September and was taken in the traps. A few weeks later it was found in large numbers at Woods 
Hole, remaining till late in fall. In Eel Pond over 250 were taken at one seine-haul. Since then only 
a very few have been observed each year, none being taken in 1897. The fish is 4 or 5 inches long and 
is usually found with young herring ( Clupea harengus) of slightly smaller size. 
37 . Pomolobus mediocris (Mitchill). “ Hickory Shad.” (* t) 
Common. Comes in spring but is most numerous from last of September to end of trap-fishing 
season. In October, 1895, a trap near Tarpaulin Cove caught 3,500 at one lift. These brought 10 cents 
each in New York. In spring and summer the fish has no market value, but in fall it is shipped to 
New York. 
38 . Pomolobus pseudoharengus (Wilson). Branch Herring; “Alewife”; “River Herring.” (* t $) 
Arrives in March and is taken during March and April. By May 1 most of the fish have entered 
the streams and ponds to spawn; early in May it begins to return to salt water. Many are caught in 
scoop nets for bait. 
39 . Pomolobus aestivalis (Mitchill). Glut Herring; “Blackhack.” (* t §) 
Common. Comes later than branch herring. Spawns in adjacent ponds. 
40 . Alosa sapidissima (Wilson). “Shad.” (* t) 
Comes ab( nit May 1 and is taken in traps. Less numerous than formerly; twenty-five years ago 
probably 100 times as many were caught as in recent years. In 1897 the average number taken in a 
trap was not over three to five. 
41 . Opisthonema oglinum (LeSueur). Thread Herring. (* t) 
Very rare. A number were taken in the fall of 1871, but the species is not recorded in Professor 
Baird’s list. In 1885 it was quite common in Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound in July. It remained 
about a month, and specimens were taken in traps at almost every lift. During the next four years 
the fish was also noticed, but none has been seen since 1890. Recorded from Newport, Rhode Island, 
from which place the type came; but not regularly found north of the Carolinas. 
42 . Brevoortia tyrannus (Latrobe). “Menhaden”; “Bogy.” (* t §) 
Arrives in schools about May 20, but scattered fish are taken in March with alewives ; they remain 
until first of December, sometimes as late as December 20, but are most abundant in June. When 
the schools first arrive the reproductive organs of many of the fish are in an advanced stage of devel- 
opment, but after July 1 none with large ovaries are found. Late in fall the fish again- have well- 
developed roes. The smallest fish are about an inch long; these are found in little schools about the 
shores and wharves as early as July 15. The Young are abundant throughout suinmer and fall. The 
average length of adult menhaden is 13 or 14 inches ; one fish 18 inches long, probably the largest ever 
observed, was caught here in 1876. 
