FISHES OF XEW YORK 



675 



orbit; pectoral long, about two thirds length of head; ventrals 

 one fifth head; highest ray of dorsal about equal to snout; the 

 posterior spines about one third length of eye; first ray of 

 dorsal above preopercle. D. 95, XVIII, 17; A. 105. 



Keddish brown, mottled with olive, the scales paler than the 

 skin about them; dorsal fin marked with darker; a dark streak 

 from eye across cheek and opercles; lower jaw included. 



This fish grows to the length of about 3 feet. De Kay noticed 

 it most abundantly in the New York market in February and 

 March. He states that it is caught on the coast in company 

 with the common cod. It feeds on various marine shells and 

 affords a very savory food. At the time of his writing it was 

 called by the fishermen ling and conger eel. De Kay employed 

 for it the English name eelpout. Fishermen who go out for cod 

 off Sandy Hook at the present time catch this fish in large 

 numbers and know it under the name of muttonfish. The range 

 of the fish is from Labrador to Delaware. It is rather common 

 north of Cape Cod. Dr Smith says it is abundant in the fall 

 off Gayhead and Cuttyhunk; it is caught while line fishing for 

 cod on rock bottom and occasionally late in fall in Vineyard 

 sound, off Great harbor, on lines baited for tautog. In Massa- 

 chusetts bay it is a common resident of deep water, frequently 

 approaching the shore. 



Family ophidiidae 

 Genus rissola Jordan & Evermann 

 This genus contains species agreeing with Ophidion in 

 general characters, but with the air bladder short, broad, sphe- 

 rical or kidney-shaped, with a posterior foramen. Species 

 chiefly of the Mediterranean. 



333 Rissola marginata (De Kay) 

 Slippery Dick 



Ophidhim marginutuin De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 315, pi. 52, fig. 169, 

 1842, New York Harbor; Baird, Ninth Ann, Rep. Smith. Inst. 351, 

 1855; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 792, 1883; Bean, 

 Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 135, 1888. 



Rissola marginata Jordan «& Evermann, Check-List Fish. N, & M. A. 483, 

 1896; Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2489, 1898; IV, pi. OCCLIII, fig. 

 8G8, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 370, 1897. 



