640 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Young fish 18 mm long . — The 18-mm specimen illustrated in figure 159 already is 
fully scaled. Fleshy tentacles are developed on the head, though not in the profusion 
of fully grown fish. The left eye has completed the migration, both eyes appearing 
close together on the right side of the head, the upper one (originally the left one) being 
a little in advance of the lower one just as in the fully grown fish. The pectoral fin- 
fold remains in part, having the appearance of a fleshy tentacle as shown in the illus- 
tration. Most of the fish examined had lost this rudiment of a pectoral at a length of 
25 to 30 mm. However, one specimen 43 mm long retained it. It would not be sur- 
prising, therefore, if occasionally it were retained longer, or even throughout life. 
The ventral and anal fins have approached each other as in the adult. In the process 
the vent and the anal fin have “migrated” forward. (See figures 158 and 159.) 
The 18-mm specimen is fully pigmented on the right or eyed side. It is inter- 
esting that the dark blotches on the dorsal and ventral fin folds of the newly hatched 
larvae have been retained on the right side of this fish in essentially the same position. 
These juvenile spots are lost, however, when the fish reach a length of about 25 mm. 
As the fish grows, spots generally become much more numerous than in the 18-mm 
one illustrated. Frequently about seven or eight more or less definite blackish cross 
lines are also developed in adults. Much variation in color among individuals 
exists. The small specimen drawn is destitute of pigment on the blind side, which is 
quite usual among adults. Yet, many exceptions have been noticed. In fact, vari- 
ous degrees of pigmentation have been seen, ranging from a few obscure dusky spots 
or a dusky shade here and there to a general dusky to blackish coloration with 
definite blackish spots. 
GROWTH 
An insufficient number of hogchokers has been measured to determine the rate 
of growth with any degree of certainty. According to length measurements of 440 
specimens, regarded as belonging to the 0-class, taken during April (1931), this class 
ranges in length from 18 to about 100 mm, the mode being at about 55 mm. A 
considerable range in size would be expected because of the very long spawning 
season, which extends at least from May to August. The specimens measured, 
therefore, may have varied in age from about 7 to nearly 12 months. 
Subsequent growth remains almost entirely under termined, though among a 
limited number of larger specimens, measured in April (1931), there is another slight 
mode around 140 mm, indicating that fish approaching an age of 2 years probably 
are fully grown. 
The largest hogchocker taken at Beaufort was 184 mm (J){ inches) long. The 
largest one ever reported (Hildebrand & Schroeder, 1928, p. 176), so far as known to 
the writers, was 200 mm (8 inches) long. The average size of mature fish apparently 
is around 125 mm (5 inches). It is obvious, therefore, that the hogchocker is too 
small to be of commercial value. So far as the writers are aware it is never eaten. 
BIBLIOGRAPHY 
A Manual of Fish Culture. 1898 and 1900. Report U. S. Com. Fish and Fisheries for 1897 
(1898), pp. 1-340, pis. 1-62 and I-XVII, illus.: Revised ed. (separately published by U. S. 
Bur. Fish.) 1904, X; 340 pages, 64 and XVII pis., illus. Washington. 
Barnhart, Percy Spencer. 1932. Notes on the habits, eggs, and young of some fishes of south- 
ern California. Bull., Scripps Instit. Ocean., vol. 3, no. 4, 1932, pp. 87-99, 11 figs. Berkeley. 
Chabanaud, Paul. 1928. Revision des poissons h£t6rosomes de la sous-famille des Achirinae, 
d’apres les types de Kaup, de Gunther et de Steindachner. Bull., l’lnstitut ocdanographi- 
que, no. 523. 1928, 53 pages. Monaco. 
