Family: Clupeidae, Herrings view all from this family

Description To 30" (76 cm); 9 1/4 lbs (4.2 kg). Elongate, strongly compressed; dorsal and ventral profiles evenly rounded; depth about one-fourth length. Back dark bluish or greenish, sides much paler, belly silvery; dusky humeral spot usually followed by several small, less distinct dusky spots. Head one-fifth or less of length; mouth oblique, maxilla reaches to posterior margin of eye; eye diameter much less than length of snout. Dorsal fin origin slightly anterior to pelvic fin insertion, last dorsal ray not elongate.

Related Species Hickory Shad (A. mediocris) with dorsal profile almost straight, well-rounded ventrally; lower jaw projects well beyond upper; occurs in similar habitat from Maine to St. Johns River, Florida.

Habitat Bays, estuaries, and fresh water.

Range From s. Labrador to St. Johns River, Florida; introduced in Pacific from Alaska to Mexico.

Discussion All Alosa are schooling species that enter freshwater streams to spawn. None remain long in fresh water, nor do they go far out at sea.