70 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
the fish resemble the adult sufficiently to be recognized readily. The characters 
that distinguish the species at this size are largely the same as those used in identi- 
fying the adult; namely, the small scales (91 to 96 vertical series above the lateral 
line), which are not notably reduced in size on the chest; the rather high spinous 
dorsal (the third ray later becoming conspicuously produced) with the longest spines 
reaching well past the origin of the second dorsal; the longer anal, typically with 
8 soft rays; the moderately long pectorals, which usually reach to tips of ventrals; 
and the presence of rather definite black bars on the back and sides, the one crossing 
the nape and the one under the spinous dorsal nearly or quite meeting on the side to 
form a V above the pectoral. The small, vertically elongate, eliptical pupil remains 
conspicuous, as in smaller specimens, and readily distinguishes this species from 
americanus, although not from littoralis. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE YOUNG 
■ '. ; ~ 
Young under 10 millimeters in length were not taken. Those from 10 to 70 
millimeters in length were all collected in the surf along the outer shores of the “banks. ” 
The larger ones were also taken there in part and in part in the estuary of Newport 
River. So far as known, the young dwell on or near the bottom like the adults. 
GROWTH 
The measurements obtained are inadequate to cast much light upon the rate of 
growth. However, specimens of the 0-class, 113 to 116 millimeters long, taken in 
July when very probably not over 3 months old, suggest rapid growth. 
Hildebrand and Schroeder (1928, p. 291) report specimens, 35 to 154 millimeters 
in length, from Chesapeake Bay taken late in September, and others 50 to 185 milli- 
meters long taken in October. If the larger fish are correctly assigned to the 0-class, 
a plienominally rapid growth must take place. 
Welsh and Breder (1923, p. 192) state, “The growth of Menticirrhus saxatilis 
the first summer is exceedingly rapid.” These authors record specimens of the 0-class 
from Woods Hole, Mass., as much as 100 millimeters long on September 1 ; others 
from Cape May, N.J., 90 millimeters long on August 8; and still others from Chesa- 
peake Bay, 140 millimeters long on September 12. All the data that are available, 
therefore, point to a very rapid growth in this species during the first summer. 
Very little is known about the growth after the first summer. The present 
investigation, being concerned almost wholly with the development of the young, 
has yielded virtually nothing on this phase of the life history. Welsh and Breder 
(1923, p. 194) state that from the examination of the scales of a small series of examples 
from New Jersey it appeared that a modal length of about 120 millimeters was attained 
by the first winter, the majority of the fish being 100 to 150 millimeters long. In 
the second winter the modal length was about 250 millimeters, and the third winter 
350 millimeters. Then, the writers conclude that maturity is reached during the 
third or fourth summer. The earlier spawning season and the very rapid growth 
during the first summer further south, that is, in Chesapeake Bay and at Beaufort, 
suggests that maturity may be attained there a year earlier. 
MENTICIRRHUS LITTORALIS (Holbrook) 
Menticirrhus littoralis ranges from Chesapeake Bay southward to the Gulf coast, 
the exact limits of its southern distribution being undetermined. Its range north- 
ward does not extend as far as that of either of the other two local species of the 
