182 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
In post-larval examples 1.1 cm. long the soft rays of the dorsal and anal are 
already formed; the anal spines are prominent and the dorsal spines and ventral 
fins are beginning to appear (fig. 39). The pectoral fin is inconspicuous. A 
membrane extends from the vent to the anal spine, and membranous folds are pres- 
ent both dorsally and ventrally on the caudal peduncle. The caudal is considerably 
produced, its longest ray about equaling length of head. The mouth is large and 
prominent, and the suprascapular ridge is already formed. The eye is pigmented, 
but the only other pigment (in preserved specimens) is in a row of five or six black 
chromatophores ventrally on the caudal peduncle and two similar ones on the 
isthmus. 
In specimens of 3 cm. in length the spiny armature of the head is strongly 
developed, the mandibular barbels are in evidence, and the shape of the body 
approaches that of the adult; the head is large, about 3 in standard length; eye 3 
to 3| in head; the spinous dorsal and pectoral as in the adult, but the soft dorsal 
and anal proportionately much higher, ventrals long, the first ray reaching to or 
beyond vent; caudal with a flowing extension of the lower rays, the longest ray 
about equal to length of head. Scales are present but difficult to distinguish (fig. 
40). Color (preserved examples) pale throughout, punctulated with groups of 
brownish chromatophores in regular rows, 8 on the dorsal line from head to base 
of caudal, 8 to 10 on a line from opercular flap to caudal, a less distinct row lying 
between these; snout, premaxillary, and tip of spinous dorsal, base of anal, and 
base of caudal rays punctulate with brownish. 
Examples of 7 to 8 cm. in length are in most respects similar to the adult 
(fig. 41), the chief differences being in the greatly prolonged caudal rays and the 
higher anal fin of the young. 
The young of Micropogon undulatus appear to spend the first winter in the 
deeper waters of the larger bays and in the ocean about the vicinity of inlets. In 
the late fall they are often found in waters that are practically fresh. In Chesapeake 
Bay in January they occur from the Severn River to Hampton Roads and Cape 
Charles but are most abundant in the deep water (100 to 160 feet) between the 
mouths of the Potomac and Choptank Rivers. 
On December 9, 1915, numerous young fish were taken by the steamer Fish 
Hawk in Chesapeake Bay, near Sharps Island Light, at a depth of 126 feet. These 
fish were in a post-larval stage and measured in length from 2 to 6 cm., with a mode 
of 3 cm. From the conformation of the curve of measurements it appears that 
smaller examples were present but escaped capture. On January 22, 1914, in about 
100 feet of water off Cove Point, Chesapeake Bay, the same vessel took in a single 
haul 5 quarts of post-larval specimens, of which 64 taken at random from the catch 
showed a length of from 3 to 10 cm., with a mode of 5 cm. During the same month 
post-larval specimens were taken in the bay at 22 other stations, the extreme lengths 
observed being 1 and 10 cm. The modal length for January 1 in Chesapeake 
Bay can thus be put at about 4 cm. (1J inches), with extremes of 1 and 10 cm. (J to 
3 1 inches). 
Actual measurements of 704 examples in their second winter (December 4, 
1919) taken in a shrimp trawl by steamer Albatross (Station 20032) at Cape Canav- 
eral Bight, Fla., show a clearly cut year class with a mode of 15 cm. (6 inches) and 
