BUl-LETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 371 



At station 2443 we got two or three barrels of sea-urchins, one skate 

 {Raia radiata), one sand-dab {Limanda ferrvginea), a considerable 

 quantity of shells (chiefly varieties of sea-whelks or Buecinum), and 

 some hermit-crabs. At station 2444 the trawl brought up about two 

 barrels of sand-dollars, three very small fish of undetermined species, 

 one bank-clam {Glycimeris), and a few hermit and spiny crabs. At sta- 

 tion 2445 many sea-lemons (Boltenia) and other varieties of ascidians 

 were taken, also numbers of spiny sea-urchins, small spiny crabs, her- 

 mit-crabs, and a few living and as many dead scallops {Pecten islandi- 

 cus). Comparatively few sand-dollars were obtained, a few worm-eaten 

 stones of varying size, and a quantity of pebbles. There were several 

 small fish of undetermined species and a few shrimp. In this neighbor- 

 hood but little material was obtained, however, which would be suitable 

 as food for cod, and the inference is that the fish in that vicinity were 

 attracted there principally in pursuit of smaller species (as lant or cape- 

 lin) which they were feeding upon. 



As we proceeded farther north and reached from 4Go 20' to 46^ 28' 

 north latitude, the character of the fauna, as well as of the bottom, 

 changed very materially, and there were not only indications of a 

 greater abundance of food suitable for the cod, but we also had evidence 

 that the fish were far more numerous than they were in the region near 

 station 2443. 



At station 2446 the trawl brought up many sea-lemons {Boltenia 

 bolteni) and other varieties of ascidians, while flat sea-urchins were few 

 in number. There were also numbers of shrimp, sea-peaches, spiny 

 crabs, hermit-crabs, scallops, also Trophon clathratus, Saxicava, Buc- 

 dnum, a considerable quantity of pebbles, and a few worm-eaten stones. 

 A few miles northerly from this position fishing schooners were seen at 

 anchor ahead of the ship and on both sides, and one or two vessels 

 were under way shifting their position. Near these, considerable ma- 

 terial was taken which indicated an abundance of animal life on the 

 bottom suitable as food for cod. 



At station 2447, which was about 3 miles west-southwest by compass 

 from where "Ryder's Kock" is laid down on the charts, the trawl 

 brought up a rather small amount of material, of which about one-half 

 was sand-dollars, and of the remainder sea-lemons were most numerous. 



At station 2448 (latitude 46° 28', longitude 49° 39' 30") we sounded 

 and made a haul with the beam-trawl. This is the position where 

 ^'Ryder's Rock" is laid down on the charts, and the investigations 

 made here determined the fact that no such rock exists, since in this 

 place a depth of 40 fathoms was obtained on a bottom of sand and 

 gravel. Here, the following were obtained : One flounder (L. ferrngi- 

 nea), one skate {Baia radiata), about 1^ bushels of sand-dollars, and a 

 few crabs, scallops, &c. 



After making this haul the ship steamed up near the schooner Kee- 

 watiu, of Lockport, Nova Scotia, and I went on board to obtain infor- 



