370 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISII COMMISSION. 



"west). Here thirty-six specimens of the craig or pole flounder [Olyp- 

 tocephalus cynoglossus) were taken in the beam-trawl, which was on the 

 bottom only a few minutes. These fish were of large size and weighed 

 106 pounds in the aggregate. The trawl also brought up a very large 

 quantity of ophiurans. Off the southern edge of the Grand Bank, in 

 depths varying from 100 to 300 fathoms, the trawl brought up large 

 •quantities of grenadiers {Macrurus), blue hake {Haloporphyrus viola), 

 .soft corals, and a smaller amount of other material. 



Several dredgings were made during the early part of the 24:th in the 

 shallow water on the eastern edge of the Grand Bank. At dredging 

 station 2437* the trawl brought up considerable quantities of bryozoa, 

 -which fishermen call "sea-moss"; where this occurs the ground is known 

 as " mossy bottom." Many flat sea-urchins, commonly called '' sand- 

 dollars," were also taken, but there were no fish, excepting one small 

 flounder. At station 2138, near by, most of the material taken con- 

 sisted of sand-dollars. A rather small amount was brought up in the 

 trawl, among which were broken shells, one skate {Raia radiata), one 

 small fish, and a few shells. At station 2139 the trawl brought up a 

 large mass of holothurians, commonly called "sea-pumpkins," a few 

 ascidians {Boltenia), known to the fishermen as "sea-lemons," and many 

 small sponges and shells. Among the latter there were many live mus- 

 sels, some of which were covered with sponges and barnacles. A small 

 amount of bryozoa, sand-dollars, and a few spider-crabs were taken, 

 also one small codfish. The bulk of the material obtained at station 

 2110 consisted of dead shells, and, so far as could be judged, the bot- 

 tom where the dredging was made would be what is termed " barren 

 ground." A few small flounders and three haddock were also taken at 

 this station. 



The material brought up in the trawl during the forenoon of the 25th 

 did not indicate for the most part a very good feeding ground for cod. 

 At station 2141 very little material was obtained, consisting of a very few 

 shells and some spiny sea-urchins {Strongylocentrotus drobacMensis), sesh- 

 lemons {Boltenia), a few shrimp, two small skates {Raia radiata), and one 

 young sculpin ( Cottus). At station 2442 the trawl brought up only about 

 one-half bushel of material in all. This was mostly flat sea-urchins. 

 There were also one sea-lemon {Boltenia holtcni) , one sea-peach {Halocyn- 

 thia pyrifonnis), several sea-pumpkins (Pen<acto/ro;i(?06'a), sea-strawber- 

 ries or soft coral {Alcyonium f), and a few starfish, spiny crabs, and 

 hermit-crabs. There were also some barnacles and several species of 

 shells, chiefly Saxieava mactrasipho. Besides these there were a few 

 shrimp.t 



* For latitude and longitude and other details concerning these stations, see Tan- 

 ner's Report before cited, p. 66 et acq. 



1 1 am indebted to Mr. Sanderson Smith for the identification of the shells, while 

 Mr. J. E. Benedict, resident naturalist on the shii), rendered much aid in identify- 

 ing many of the species of fish and invertebrates. 



