DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE HISTORY OF SOME TELEOSTS 
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fins, the typical number being dorsal 12, anal 13, as compared with dorsal 11, anal 12 
in boleosoma; (c) in having no definite dark shoulder spot, nor V-shaped da.rk markings 
along the sides whereas these color markings generally are quite evident in boleosoma; 
(d) in reaching a larger size (according to the few specimens at hand from North 
Carolina the maximum size attained by shujeldti is about 70 mm, while the largest 
specimen of boleosoma, of which many specimens have been collected, is only 55 mm 
long); ( e ) in inhabiting fresh and slightly bracldsh water, whereas boleosoma ranges 
from salt to bracldsh water. If the young of shujeldti are present in the collection, 
they are confused with boleosoma. 
Two other species of gobies which Mr. Ginsburg (loc. cit.) also places in the 
genus Gobionellus, not as yet recorded from Beaufort, have been taken there recently, 
namely, oceanicus and hastatus. These species both differ from the other local 
Gobionellus in the more numerous rays in the dorsal and anal fins, the usual number 
in the dorsal being 14 and in the anal 14 or 15. The two species differ from each other 
largely in the number of scales in a lateral series, hastatus, according to 10 specimens 
from Beaufort, has 81 to 89, and oceanicus, according to 3 specimens from Beaufort, 
has 61 to 68 scales. The counts agree with those made by Ginsburg (1932, p. 39) 
based on specimens from Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Florida, and Louisiana. The 
young of at least one of these species apparently also are included in the present 
collection. 
GOBIONELLUS BOLEOSOMA (JORDAN AND GILBERT). SCALLOP FISH 
The young of Gobionellus are much less numerous in the collection than those of 
Gobiosoma and Microgobius, but they are not rare, as 177 larvae are at hand. Adults 
of Gobionellus boleosoma have been taken more frequently locally than those of Micro- 
gobius, but much less often than Gobiosoma. The local distribution of adult G. 
boleosoma seems to be rather general. They were taken most frequently with seines 
in shallow water and on muddy bottom, both in salt and slightly bracldsh water, 
including in one instance a small drainage ditch. In somewhat deeper water they 
were secured only twice, once in the channel of Newport River, a few miles north of 
(he laboratory, and again at sea off Bogue Banks. 
Many variations or differences have been noticed among adults from Beaufort. 
In some specimens the body is more slender than in others. Also, the size of the 
mouth, the teeth, and the eyes varies. The median portion of the abdomen is variously 
scaled or naked and in some specimens the caudal fin is much longer than in others. 
Most of these differences certainly are associated with sex. In general, large males 
are more slender than females, and they have larger eyes, more prominent teeth, and 
a longer and more pointed caudal fin. 
The maximum size attained by this goby is about 55 mm. It no doubt is preyed 
upon by larger predatory fishes, but it evidently is not abundant enough to be of 
much importance as a forage fish. Therefore, its economic value must be very slight 
locally. 
Gobionellus boleosoma is present in the vicinity of Beaufort throughout the year, 
as both adults and young have been taken occasionally during the winter months 
as well as during the summer. Therefore, it evidently does not migrate, and no 
evidence indicating that it seeks protection from the cold by burying itself in mud 
or sand has been secured. 
SPAWNING 
Ripe or nearly ripe fish have been taken locally during July and August. Very 
small larvae (2.5 to 5.0 mm long), however, were taken as early as May 15 (1929), 
