THE HORNED DOGFISH. 673 



and are occasioually taken in nets. They are of no special value, and canse much annoyance to 

 tin- fishermen. An individual taken at Wood's Iloll, Massachusetts, in -July, 1875, measured nine 

 i'eet seven inches, and weighed three hundred and eighty pounds, the liver weighing thirty-eight 

 pounds. It had in its stomach a bluetish of five pounds' weight. These two species feed upon 

 niollusUs as well as upon lish. Individuals examined by the Fish Commissiou were found to 

 contain bluefish, flounders, crabs, lobsters, and quantities of a small species of a bivalve shell, 

 Yoldia sapotilla. 



THE BLACK-FINNED SIIAKK ISOGOMPHODON MACULIPINNIS. 



This species resembles in shape the Blue Shark, from which it may be distinguished by its 

 lighter color aud the presence of a prominent black spot upon the tip of each liu. The species is 

 found iu the tropical parts of the Atlantic aud Indian Oceans and on the Pacific coast of Central 

 America. It was first discovered on our coast iu 1875, when several specimens were taken at 

 Wood's Holl, Massachusetts. 



THE TIGER SHARK GALEOCERDO TIGRINUS. 



This is a species which is found throughout the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and ou the coast 

 of Japan. It was first noticed iu our waters by Captain Atwood, who obtained specimens at 

 Proviucetowii, and has since been observed occasionally. It is one of the most active aud grace- 

 ful of Sharks, as well as oue of the most ferocious. Its teeth are like razors. In the stomach of 

 a specimen taken by Captain Atwood at Provincetowu, nearly a whole full-grown sword-fish was 

 found; ten or twelve wounds iu the skin of the Shark gave evidence of the contest that must 

 have occurred. It feeds upon mollusks as well as upon other fishes. A specimen caught at 

 Wood's Holl iu 1871 contained large univalve shells, Buccinum undatum, and the sea-snail, Lunatia 

 heros. 



THE SMOOTH OR BLUE DOGFISH MUSTELUS OANIS. 



The Smooth Dogfish of our waters, Mustelus caitin, is without doubt specifically identical with 

 one of the common European species, M. vuh/tiris. The American name has, however, the right 

 of priority. Hitherto, only a single species has been recognized upon Atlantic coasts. It is quite 

 abundant on the coast of Southern New England. . It feeds upon crabs, lobsters, and other bottom- 

 loving invertebrates, its smooth pavement-like teeth being adapted for crushing the thick shells 

 of these animals rather than for seizing and holding active fishes. 



In Bermuda this fish is known as the ''Nurse Shark," aud is highly esteemed by the negroes 

 as food, aud is also an important bait in the local fisheries. At Folkstone, England, they are 

 dried, and go by the name of " Folkstone beef." 



THE HORNED OR SPINY DOGFISH SQUALTTS AOANTHIAS. 



This species is found in the North Atlantic, occurring on the coast of Europe from the North 

 Cape to the Mediterranean, and in our own waters south to New York. On the west coast it 

 ranges south to Santa Barbara. Little attention has been paid to its habits. I cannot do better 

 than quote fully the observations of Captain Atwood, who writes: 



"This Shark is the most common one upon our coast. I have seen it at Gay Head, Martha's 

 Vineyard, but know nothing further about its southerly limits. Both above and below Cape Cod 

 it is abundant, and is found all along the coast of Massachusetts, Maine, Nova Scotia, and the 

 Gulf of Saint Lawreuce. I myself have never seen them farther north than the Magdalen 

 Islands aud the east coast of Cape Breton Island, but reliable accounts say that it is found on the 

 southern coast of Newfoundland. As the Dogfish appear at Provincetown a little while after the 

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