524 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Specimens 40 mm and upward in length . — The body is quite variable in depth 
among individuals, and it may be deeper in rather smaller fish than in much larger 
ones. For example, the depth is contained 2.3 times in the length to the base of the 
caudal in a 40-mm specimen, whereas in a 125-mm one it is contained 2.6 times. The 
snout continues to become more pointed and proportionately longer with age, being 
contained 3.1 times in the head in a 40-mm fish and 2.5 times in 165-mm ones. The 
mouth has become horizontal and much below the eye, and the teeth already are 
broad and well notched in fish 40 mm long. The caudal fin becomes more deeply 
forked with age, and the lobes become more sharply pointed. The pectoral and 
ventral fins increase in length and become pointed with age. The pectoral fins reach 
the vertical from the vent in specimens about 40 mm long, whereas in large specimens 
they reach beyond the origin of the anal. Specimens up to about 100 mm in length 
retain the filament on the first soft ray of the ventral which thereafter decreases in 
length and is missing in large fish. The second anal spine, though already longer 
and stronger than the third in 40-mm fish, increases considerably in thickness in 
larger fish. 
The color is extremely variable. Dark cross bars are present in all specimens 
at hand, though variable in intensity. Furthermore, some specimens have prominent 
alternating bluish- and yellowish-green longitudinal lines which are indistinct or want- 
ing in others (fig. 17). 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE YOUNG 
The smallest young (5.0 to 10 mm in length) secured were all collected offshore 
or in or near Beaufort Inlet. These young presumably were en route from the spawn- 
ing grounds to inshore waters. Exactly where spawning takes place is not known. 
However, the indications are that it occurs a considerable distance offshore. The 
early larvae (under 5.0 mm in length), missing in the collections, which were made 
within 12 or 13 miles from the shore, would be expected to occur near the spawning 
grounds, as such small fish, lacking self-directive powers, could not have drifted far. 
The discovery of the habitat of these early young therefore remains for future in- 
vestigation, but apparently should be sought a considerable distance offshore. 
