296 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
south through the West Indies; generally common, but probably not in Porto Rico. Length 2 to 3 
inches. The collection contains 5 males and 4 females from Fajardo and 2 males from Isabel Segunda. 
Gobius lyricus Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1858, 169, Brazos Santiago, Texas; Jordan & Evermann, 1. c., 2224, 1898. 
Gobius wurdemanni Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1858, 169, Brazos Santiago, Texas. 
Smaragdus costalesi Poey, Memorias, II, 280, 1861, Havana. 
249. Gobius bayamonensis Evermann & Marsh. 
Plead 5.8; depth 6.4; eye 5; snout 3.2; maxillary 1.8; mandible 1.9; interorbital 7.6; preorbital 
4.6; scales 74,-19, about 29 before dorsal; D. vi-14, longest spine about 0.7 in head, the longest ray 1.5; 
A. 15, longest ray 1.5; pectoral 0.9; ventrals 1; caudal very long and pointed. Body very long and 
slender; head long; caudal peduncle long; mouth very large, oblique; maxillary long, reaching past 
posterior border of orbit; only a few scales on opercle. 
Color as in G. oceanicus, which this species closely resembles. The smaller (74 instead of 63 to 
65), almost cycloid scales, fewer scales on opercle, longer head, larger mouth, longer maxillary, and 
longer and more slender body are differences which we can not reconcile with the descriptions of 
G. oceanicus or with numerous specimens of it which we have from Porto Rico. 
, This description is based on a single specimen 9 inches in length, No. 49365, U. S. N. M., bought 
in the San Juan market, January 14. It probably came from near the mouth of Bayamon River at 
Palo Seco, for which stream the species was named. 
Gobius bayamonensis Evermann & Marsh, Rept. U. S. F. C. 1899 (Dec. 19) , 355, San Juan market, Porto Rico. 
250. Gobius oceanicus Pallas. Esmeralda; “Sell.” 
Head 5; depth 6 to 6.5; eye 5 to 5.5; snout about 3; maxillary 2 to 2.3; mandible 2; interorbital 
7 to 8; preorbital 4 to 4.5; scales about 63,-17; D. vi-14, the longest spine variable in length, 0.7 to 1.5 
in head, the longest ray about 1.5; A. 15, the longest ray 1.4 to 2 in head; pectoral 1.1; ventrals 1.2; 
caudal long and pointed. Body very elongate, tapering gradually to long caudal peduncle; head 
short; snout short; mouth large, oblique, lower jaw slightly projecting, maxillary reaching posterior 
border of pupil; interorbital very narrow, preorbital broad; isthmus broad, gill-openings not extending 
forward much beyond angle of opercle; teeth in narrow bands on jaws, outer slightly enlarged. Scales 
ctenoid, rather large, smaller and crowded anteriorly, about 26 before dorsal; nape scaled, breast and 
cheek naked, opercle with a few scales at top. 
Color in alcohol: Pale-olivaceous; head, back, and upper part of side with fine dark punctulations; 
a large black blotch on side below spinous dorsal; middle of side with about 12 broad <-shaped black 
markings opening backward; an obscure dark blotch at base of caudal; opercle with a dark blotch; 3 
or 4 small black spots on first dorsal spine; spinous dorsal dusky with a light and a dusky streak at 
base; soft dorsal dusky, with a light area between each two rays, anterior rays barred with light and 
dark; anal pale; pectoral somewhat dusky; ventrals dark, probably blue in life, with white border. 
Found along the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States and southward through the 
West Indies to the South American coast; not rare; recorded from Cuba, Martinique, Surinam, and 
Cayenne. Apparently common in Porto Rico, as shown by the numerous specimens in the collection 
from San Juan market, Palo Seco, and Boqueron. Specimens were dredged at stations 6054, off San Juan 
Harbor, in 4 to 5 fathoms, and 6087, off Culebra Island, in 15 fathoms. Our largest examples are about 
7.5 inches long. This species reaches a foot or more in length and is of considerable value as food. 
