Vol. XXVIII, pp. 89-94 April 13, 1915 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



fc^v.l. 



NOTES ON THE SHARKS AND RAYS OF CAPE 



LOOKOUT, N. C. 



BY RUSSELL J. COLES. 



In this paper I briefly record some observations made on the 

 sharks and rays which occur in this field. Four species of 

 sharks, G inglymostoma cirratum, Galeocerdo tigrinus, Carcharodon 

 carcharias, and Cetorhinus maxhnus, have not previously been 

 reported. During fourteen years' fishing in this field I have 

 added twelve of the thirty-one species listed in this paper to 

 local fauna. I am indebted to Mr. Lewis Radcliffe, of the 

 U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, for many suggestions in the prepara- 

 tion of the paper. 



1. Qinglymostoma cirratum (Gmelin). 



NURSE SHARK. 



In the summer of 1913, while working in the breakers off the Lookout 

 Shoals for sharks and rays, I noticed a large school of very dark-colored 

 sharks drifting with the tide. These I at tirst mi.stook for sand-bar sharks. 

 I soon had a nine-foot specimen hooked and in a short time brought it 

 alongside. The lance with which it was struck rebounded from its tough 

 hide and only after it had been freshly filed to a very sharp point could 

 it l)e used to kill the shark. Tlie liead only was preserved. This is the 

 first record of this species for the coast of North Carolina. 



2. Mustelus canis (Mitchill). 



SMOOTH DOGFISH. 



Abundant during May and June; occasionally taken during July. 



3. Galeocerdo tigrinus Miiller & Henle. 



In the latter part of June, 1912, a specimen was taken in the bight of 

 Cape Lookout, which from a personal examination of the teeth and the 



14— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash.. Vol. XXVIII. 1915. (89) 



