48 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
aa. Anal fin with 2 spines, usually rather strong, and 6 to 13 soft rays; body generally with few or 
no black chromatophores on sides and back, largely unspotted, 
c. Dorsal fin with X to XII-I, 20 to 22 rays (the! spines sometimes not all developed). 
d. Body quite deep, depth 2.6 to 2.75 in length to base of caudal; an abrupt decrease in 
depth posterior to vent; vent more than an eye’s diameter in advance of anal; mouth 
strongly oblique, the gape anteriorly only a little below middle of eye; anal fin with 
II, 8 rays; caudal fin long, pointed; an elongate black spot or line in advance of 
upper anterior angle of gill opening; no black chromatophores at origin of first dorsal. 
Stellifer lanceolatus 
dd. Body moderately deep, depth about 2.5 in length to base of caudal; no abrupt decrease 
in depth posterior to vent; vent not more than an eye’s diameter in advance of 
origin of anal; anal fin with II, 9 or 10 rays; caudal fin round; no black spot or line 
in advance of upper anterior angle of gill opening; some black chromatophores on 
upper part of side near origin of first dorsal Bairdiella chrysura 
ddd. Body somewhat more slender, depth about 3.0 in length to base of caudal; no abrupt 
decrease in depth posterior to vent; vent less than an eye’s diameter in advance of 
origin of anal; mouth rather strongly oblique, the gape anteriorly about on level 
with lower margin of pupil; anal fin with II, 6 or 7 rays; no black spot or line in 
advance of upper anterior angle of gill opening; upper surface of head and sides 
variously dotted with black chromatophores Pogonias cromis 
cc. Dorsal fin with X or XI— I, 23 to 34 rays (the spines not always developed) . 
e. Dorsal and anal fins long, the former with 30 to 34, and the latter with 12 or 13 soft 
rays; mouth moderately oblique, the gape anteriorly slightly above level of lower 
margin of eye; maxillary Teachings almost to middle of eye; caudal fin rather short, 
slightly rounded or straight; a few dark chromatophores present along ventral outline 
only Leiostomus xanthurus 
ee. Dorsal and anal fins shorter, the former with 23 to 29 rays, and the latter with 6 to 12 
rays (rarely with 13 in Cy noscion regalis). 
f. Body very deep, strongly compressed, depth about 1.9 in length to base of caudal; 
mouth rather strongly oblique, the gape anteriorly a little above lower margin of 
eye; anal fin short with II, 6 rays; caudal fin rather long pointed; sides with large 
branching chromatophores, variable in number among specimens, partly at least 
arranged in longitudinal series; lower half of pectorals and ventrals black. 
Larimus fasciatus 
ff. Body more slender, the depth more than 2.5 times in length to base of caudal; 
anal fin longer, with more than 7 soft rays; basal half of pectorals and ventrals 
not black. 
g. Anal generally with 8 or 9 soft rays ( Cynoscion nothus rarely with 10 rays). 
h. Second dorsal moderately short, with 23 to 25 soft rays; eye large, about 
as long as spout, its diameter nearly equal to least depth of caudal pe- 
duncle; a broken lateral stripe present posteriorly, the color subsurface; 
body variously marked above and below with black chromatophores; a 
large branching chromatophore at base of posterior anal rays, and usually 
another prominent one on upper part of side, somewhat in advance of 
second dorsal Sciaenops ocellatus 
hh. Second dorsal rather long, with 28 or 29 soft-rays; eye small, shorter 
than snout, its diameter shorter than least depth of caudal peduncle; 
ventral surface with small black chromatophores; sides and back plain 
without black markings Micropogon undulatus 
hhh. Second dorsal moderately long, generally with 25 to 27 rays (sometimes 
24 to 28) ; eye rather small, somewhat shorter than snout, its diameter 
notably shorter than least depth of caudal peduncle; body moderately 
deep; depth 3.0 to 3.25 in length to base of caudal; vent far in advance 
of origin of anal, the distance notably longer than diameter of eye; 
black lateral band wanting; 2 elongate dusky spots at base of anal, 1 
at anterior rays and another at the posterior ones Cynoscion nothus 
gg. Anal generally with 10 to 12 soft rays ( Cynoscion regalis sometimes with 13). 
i. Body moderately deep; depth 2.95 to 3.0 in length to base of caudal; 
vent more than an eye’s diameter in advance of origin of anal; snout 
