DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE HISTORY OF SOME TELEOSTS 
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large and somewhat oblique, with the lower jaw projecting. An aggregation of 
pigment cells formed indications of a band above the base of the pectoral, and 
another at about midcaudal length. 
The specimens forming the basis of the present study were collected mostly at 
Beaufort, N. C. Other young were taken on the coast of Georgia and on the Gulf 
coast of the United States. Unfortunately, stages in development connecting directly 
with the largest larvae described by Ryder are not at hand. The smallest specimen 
in the collections, identified as a spadefish, is only about 2.5 mm long in the pre- 
served state. Although this larva is shorter than the oldest one described by Ryder, 
which was about 4.0 mm long when alive or fresh, it is much further advanced in 
development, showing apparently that much shrinkage took place during the harden- 
ing process. The characters connecting this larva with the younger ones described 
by Ryder are pointed out in the description of the specimen. 
The spadefish is known in some localities as angel fish and also as moonfish. 
At Beaufort it is called porgee (or pogee), a name also heard in the lower Chesapeake. 
This species ranges from Cape Cod, Mass., at least as far south as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 
It is not common north of Chesapeake Bay. On the Atlantic coast of Panama it 
is one of the common food fishes, and is seen in the market almost daily. It is not 
caught in large quantities on the coast of the United States. Indeed, the statistical 
report of the Bureau of Fisheries for 1935 lists a catch of only 6,000 pounds, which 
was made in North Carolina. However, the fish is taken commercially all along the 
Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Chesapeake Bay southward. It is a fish of good 
flavor and always in demand. Consequently, much of the catch is consumed locally 
and it often does not enter the markets. Therefore, it fails to get into the records, 
which do not show its full importance as a food fish. 
The spadefish is a summer resident at Beaufort, where it arrives in May and 
departs by about the beginning of October. At Key West, Fla., it is present the entire 
year, though most common during the summer. The species tends to congregate in 
small schools. It is caught chiefly with seines. However, it will take a hook baited 
with small bits of meat. Because of its small mouth, small hooks must be used. 
Furthermore, because of its tendency to nibble instead of swallowing the bait, consider- 
able patience and skill must be exercised by the angler. If he is successful in hooking 
one, a good fight follows. 
CHARACTERS OF THE ADULT 
The spadefish belongs to the family Ephippidae, of which it is the only repre- 
sentative on the Atlantic coast of America. It is readily recognized by the very 
short, deep, compressed body which is only a little longer than deep. The teeth in 
the jaws are in brushlike bands, the outer series being slightly enlarged. In large 
individuals the anterior rays of the second dorsal and anal are considerably produced, 
and the caudal fin is deeply lunate. Fish under a foot or so in length bear four to 
six broad black cross bars, which tend to fade in large individuals. The ground color 
varies from brown to silvery green. 
The maximum size of the spadefish is given as 20 pounds. However, fish weigh- 
ing as much as 12 pounds are comparatively rare. The average weight of the fish 
seen in the Beaufort market probably did not exceed 1 % pounds, and those in the 
Colon, Panama, market were even smaller. 
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