6 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



which does not occur on the island. He mentioned also the 

 bony-scaled pike, Esox osseus, concerning which he says: 

 "A few years ago I had a large and complete specimen from 

 Long Island, which agrees in the main with the descriptions- 

 extant." This was doubtless a mistake of locality. The yellow 

 perch was transplanted by Mitchill in 1790 from Ronkonkoina 

 pond to Success pond, in Queens county, a distance of 40 miles. 

 Prior to 1790, he states, there were no yellow perch in Success 

 pond. De Kay also knew only a few species of fresh-water 

 fishes in Long Island waters the yellow perch, roach, banded 

 pickerel, and brook trout. 



It seems probable that some of the early writers on New York 

 fishes must have had access to collections from Long Island, 

 and yet a number of species might have existed without dis- 

 covery during the time of their observations. The present num- 

 ber of species whose date of introduction is not recorded is very 

 small, and most of the so called native fishes represent species 

 which lend themselves readily to the purpose of artificial intro- 

 duction. 



It is a matter of record that some species of fresh-water 

 fishes identical with those found in Long Island waters, have 

 been swept out of the Hudson river by spring floods, and several 

 such species have been seen at Gravesend bay, Long Island. It 

 is certain that incursions of fresh-water forms could have taken, 

 place from time to time in the streams of the north side, and 

 also on the south side of Long Island. Once established in that 

 way, their wider dissemination through the agency of man, 

 aquatic birds, and even through their own movements could be 

 very easily accomplished. 



Of the fresh-water fishes known to Mitchill and De Kay, the 

 brook trout can live in fresh and salt water indifferently; the 

 chain pickerel is frequently found in brackish water; the yellow 

 perch is one of the fish which have been brought down from the 

 Hudson by floods into Gravesend bay; the roach is a common 

 resident of lakes in New York and Brooklyn parks, and its dis- 

 tribution has been greatly extended through the agency of man. 



