ANNOTATED LIST OF FISHES KNOWN TO INHABIT THE 

 WATERS OF RHODE ISLAND.* 



BY HENRY C. TRACY, Ph. D., 



Biological Assistant, Wickford Station. 



In the year 1898 the Commission of Inland Fisheries began a 

 "systematic examination of the physical and biological conditions of 

 Narragansett Bay." The importance of the study of the fish fauna, 

 as a part of this investigation, is obvious from a practical as well 

 as from a scientific point of view. Development of the fisheries by 

 artificial culture and restrictive legislation depends for its effective- 

 ness on our knowledge of the life history and life conditions of the 

 different species of fishes inhabiting our waters. The results of the 

 investigation of the distribution of the various fishes, times of occur- 

 rence, food, diseases, enemies, etc., furnish a body of facts in them- 

 selves of great value to the scientist, to the sportsman, and to the 

 man practically interested in the commercial aspect of the fisheries. 



Since the biological study of Rhode Island waters was begun, nu- 

 merous isolated facts regarding the fishes inhabiting them have come 

 into the possession of the Commission. The first systematic contri- 

 bution to this investigation was the "List of Fishes of Narragansett 

 Bay," by Dr. H. C. Bumpus, which was contained in the Report of the 

 Commissioners of Inland Fisheries for 1900. This was a bare list of 

 fishes, as the title indicates, with no notes or information regarding 

 any of the species included. The Report for 1901 contained a further 

 contribution to this subject, under the title "Additions to the List of 

 Fishes Known to Inhabit Narragansett Bay, with Remarks on Rare 

 Species Recently Caught." Since this time a series of articles dealing 



* Previous papers in this series are as follows : 



I. A List of the Fishes of Rhode Island, 36th Report. 1905, page .38. 

 II. The Common Fishes of the Herring Family, 36th Report, 190.5, page 100. 



III. The Fishes of the Mackerel Family, 37th Report, 1906, page 33. 



IV. A List of Rare Fishes Taken in Rhode Island in the Year 1906, 37th Report, 1906, 

 page 65. 



V. The Flat-fishes, 38th Report, 1907, page 47. 

 VI. A Description of two young Specimens of Squeteague (Cynoscion Regalis) with Notes 

 on the Rate of their Growth, 38th Report, 1907, page 85. 

 VII. The Life History of the Common Eel, 39th Report, 1908, page 43. 



