98 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



by R. I. Fish Com., 1899. A young specimen, eight inches long, taken 

 in seine at Willow Beach, near Wickford, on July 17, 1905. 

 Size: Two feet. 



77. Sphyraeiia borealis (DeKay). Northern Barracuda. 



Geog. Dist: Atlantic coast of the United States from Cape Fear to Cape 

 Cod. Rather common northward. Young common at Woods Hole. 



Season in R. I.: A small specimen seven inches long taken in seine near 

 Hamilton, July 20, 1905. 



Rate of Growth: Specimens from two to six inches common at Woods 

 Hole after July, sometimes appearing in large schools (Smith). Young 

 appear to be common along the coast south to New Jersey. 



Adults are about one foot, maximum eighteen inches. 



AMMODYTID^. The Sand Launces. 



78. Anmiodytes americanus (DeKay). Sand Lance; Lant; Sand Eel. 

 Geog. Dist.: Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. Abundant along the 



whole New England coast. 

 Habitat: Burrows in the sand in shoal water. Its habits have been 



described by Ayers, (quoted by Bean, Report N. Y. Fish and Game 



Com., VI, 1901, 417.) This species is important as the food of cod, 



halibut, and mackerel. 

 Season in R. I.: Appears at all seasons, but is most plentiful in the fall. 



Specimen nine inches long taken at Newport (J. M. K. Southwick, 



July 1, 1906). 

 Reproduction: Spawning season is probably in the winter. 

 Food : Worms and small fry. 

 Rate of Growth: Largest grow to 16 inches, but are generally smaller, 



seldom over five or six inches. Young from one-half inch long are 



found at Woods Hole (Bumpus, 1898). 



HOLOCENTRID^. The Squirrel-Fishes. 



79. Holocentrus ascensionis (Osbeck). Squirrel-fish. 



Geog. Dist.: West Indies about rocks and reefs; accidental on the coast. 



Recorded from Massachusetts, Katama Bay (?) (Bean, 1899, and 



Smith, 1900). 

 Season in R. I.: This species has been taken at Newport. (Bull. U. S. 



Nat. Mus., 1879, 44.) 

 Size: Two feet in length. 



