DISCUSSION OP SPECIES ATSTD THEIR UISTKIBUTION. 387 



latter reacliiiig tliree-foiuths of tlio distauce to tlie vent, their length about thi'ee-fifths 

 that of head (a little more than half head in M. smiridus). 



Eadial formula: I). 1.S+-11; A. 4(». 



Color dark gray, dull silvery below; upper edge of i)ectoral blackish. 



The whiting, or silver hake of the eastern United States ranges from New York to 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where it is common, especially in the Bay of Chaleur, although 

 it has been rarely observed as far north as the Strait of Belleisle. It has been found at 

 considerable depths as far south as lat. 36° and 37°, as is shown in the following list of 

 stations. It appears to spawn in the fall, at a depth of 80-150 fathoms, off the mouth of 

 Narragansett Bay, and there is no evidence that it ever breeds except at considerable 

 depths. 



Specimens were taken by the AUxifross from station 2543, in 39° 58' 15" N. hit., 70° 42' 

 30" W. Ion., at a depth of IGG tathoms; from station 2500, in 30° 48' 10" K lat., 71° 48' 40" 

 W, Ion., at a depth of 114 fathoms; from station 2540, in 39° 58' 20" N. lat., 70° 52' W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 144 fathoms; from station 2544, in 40° 01' 45" N. lat., 70° 24' W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 131 fathoms; from station 2452, in 47° 04' N. lat., 50° 48' W. Ion., at a depth of 89 

 fathoms; from station 2422, in 37° 08' 30" N. lat., 74° 33' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 85 

 fathoms; from station 2425, in 36° 20' 24" N. lat., 74° 4G' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 119 

 fathoms; from station 2260, in 40° 13' 15" N. lat., 69° 29' 15" W. Ion., at a depth of 46 

 fathoms; from station 2249, in 40° 11' N. lat., 69° 52' W. Ion., at a depth of 53 fathoms; 

 from station 2538, in 39° 57' 30" N. lat., 70° 51' 15" W. Ion., at a depth of 150 fathoms; from 

 station 2248, in 40° 07' N. lat., 69° 57' W. Ion., at a depth of 67 fathoms; from station 2242, 

 in 40° 15' 30" K lat., 70° 27' W. Ion., at a depth of 58 fathoms; from station 2537, in 39° 

 56' 45" X. lat., 70° 50' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 156 fathoms; from station 2536, in 39° 56' 

 15" K. lat., 70° 47' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 157 fathoms; from station 2426, in 36° 01' 30" 

 i^^, hit., 74° 47' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 93 fathoms; from station 2544, in 40° 01' 45" N. 

 lat., 70° 24' W. Ion., at a depth of 131 ftithoms; from station 2420, in 37° 03' 20" N. lat., 74° 

 31' 40" W. Ion., at a depth of 104 fathoms; from station 2423, in 37° 10' 15" N. lat., 74° 32' 

 W. Ion., at a depth of 143 fathoms; from station 2424, in 36° 41' 37" IST. lat., 74° 42' 15" W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 85 fathoms; from station 2501, in 44° 27' Jf. lat., 60° 20' 15" W, Ion., at 

 a depth of 26 fathoms; from station 2542, in 40° 00' 15" N. lat., 70° 42' 20" W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 129 fathoms; Cat. No. 33398, U. S. JST. M., from station 2053, in 42° 02' N. lat., 68° 

 27' W. Ion., at a depth of 105 fathoms; Cat. No. 33407, U. S. N. M., from station 2057, in 42° 

 01' N. lat., 68° 00' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 86 fixthoms; Cat. No. 33415, U. S. K. M., from 

 station 2058, in 41° 57' 30" N". lat., 67° 58' W. Ion., at a depth of 35 fathoms; from station 

 2299, in 35° 40' N. lat, 74° 51' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 296 fathoms, and Cat. No. 32678, 

 U. S. N. M.. from station 2004, in 37° 19' 45" N. lat., 74° 26' 06" W. Ion., at a depth of 102 

 fathoms. 



The Blake obtained it from station cccxiii, in 32° 31' 50" N. lat., 78° 45' W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 75 fathoms ; from station cccxi, in 39° 59' 30" N. lat., 70° 12' W. Ion., at a depth 

 of 143 fathoms; from station CCCXXI, in 32° 43' 25" N. hit., 77° 20' 30" W. Ion., at a depth 

 of 233 fathoms; and from station cccxLiv. in 40° 01' N. lat., 70° 58' W. Ion., at a depth of 

 129 fathoms. 



Additional examples were secured by the Fish HaicTc from station 945, Gat. N"o. 28809, 

 U. S. N. M., in 39° 68' N. lat., 71° 13' W. Ion., at a depth of 207 fathoms; Gat. N"o. 25790, 

 U. S. N. M., from station 792, off Newport, K. I., in IS fathoms; Cat No. 29061, IT. S. N. M., 

 from station 1047, in 38° 31' N. lat., 73° 21' W. Ion., at a depth of 156 fathoms; Cat. No. 

 26182, U. S. N. M., from station 895, in 39° 56' 30" N. lat., 70° 59' 45" W. Ion., at a depth of 

 238 fathoms; Cat. No. 28826, U. S. N. M., from station 944, in 40° 01' N. lat., 71° 14' 30" W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 128 fathoms; Gat. No. 33344, U. S. N. M., from station 1157, in 40° 14' N. 

 lat., 70° 29' 15" W. Ion., at a depth of 62 fathoms; Cat. No. 28974, U. S. N. ]M., from station 

 1038, in 39° 58' N. hit., 70° 06' W. Ion., at a depth of 146 fathoms; Gat. No. 28825, U. S. N. 

 M., from station 927, in Vineyard Sound, at a depth of 11 fathoms; Cat. N. 26728, U. S. N. 

 M., from station 897, in 37° 25' N. lat., 74° 18' W. Ion., at a depth of 157 J fathoms; and Cat. 



