FISHES OF NEW YORK -!'!:{ 



nasal opening near the front of the orbit; eye round, one sixth 

 as long as the head; gill rakers spiny, few, about seven abov<- tin- 

 angle of the first arch, those below the arch mostly small <>r 

 obsolete, the longest above angle about one third of 

 diameter of eye; operculum produced into a long, thin flap, acute 

 behind. The dorsal fin begins at a distance from tip of snout 

 equal to two thirds of length of head; its origin is not far behind 

 the eye; the longest ray is about three eighths as long as the 

 head. The pectoral is partly covered by the opercular flap; its 

 length equals length of snout. The vent is at a distance from 

 tip of snout which equals two and three fourths times length of 

 head. The anal fin, consisting of low, almost concealed, de- 

 tached spines, begins close behind the vent; its base is five and 

 one half times as long as the head. The lateral line drops rapidly 

 downward from the upper angle of the gill opening to a point 

 below the median line. Four long and strong fanglike teeth in 

 the front of the upper jaw and one or two fangs on the front of 

 the mandible, from seven to 10 sharp teeth in each side of each 

 jaw; small teeth on the palatines, none on the vomer. I). 135; 

 A. 10!.). The individual described was taken at Point Pleasant 

 X. J. It is number 49224, U. S. National Museum. Color silvery. 



The scabbard fish frequents warm seas and ranges north to 

 Cape Cod and Lower California; it is very abundant in the West 

 Indies. The fish is a voracious inhabitant of the high seas, and 

 reaches the length of 5 feet. It is highly esteemed for food in 

 Jamaica and at Pensacola; in Jamaica it forms the object of a 

 very important hook and line fishery. 



The scabbard fish is rarely seen in Gravesend bay. A young 

 individual was obtained from John B. De Nyse's pound in August 

 1897. It had been captured by another fish while in the pound; 

 but was rescued in good condition. 



Family ISTIOPHORIDAE 



Sail fishes 



Genus ISTIOPHORVS Lace"pede 



Body slender, much compressed, covered with elongate scales; 

 numerous small teeth on the jaws and palatines; ventral fins 



