REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 149 



168. Echeneis naucrateoides (Zuieuw). Pilot-sucker. 



Geog. Dist.: Warm seas north to the Merrimac River. Reported from 

 Hyannis (Storer, 1842), ColHns Cove, mouth of Merrimac River (?) 

 (Goode and Bean, 1879), Woods Hole (Baird, 1873; Smith, 1898). 



Season in R. I.: Occasionally taken in Narragansett Bay from June to 

 October. More common than E. naucrates. Specimens from New- 

 port in U. S. National Museum (Proc. U. S. Nat., 1880; 102). One 

 taken in a trap in Dutch Island Harbor, October 2, 1905. 



169. Rhoinbochirus OSteochir (Cuvier). Spearfish rernora. 



Geog. Dist.: West Indies, north to Cape Cod. Rare. Reported at 



Woods Hole (Baird, 1873; Smith, 1898). 

 Habitat: Parasitic on spearfish (Tetrapturus) . 

 Season in R. I.: Very rare. Repoited by R. I. Fish Com., 1899. 



BATRACHOIDID^. The Toadflshes. 



170. Opanus tau. (Linnteus). Toadfish; Toad-grunter. 

 Geog. Dist.: Maine to Cuba. 



Habitat: Among rocks and weeds close to the shore; prefers tempera- 

 ture of 50° to 90° F. 



Season in R. I.: Common throughout the year in shallow water under 

 stones and eel-grass. 



Reproduction: Spawns in May and June, the eggs being attached to 

 the under sides of stones and other submerged objects. The insides 

 of cans, old shoes, and large shells are also favorite places for the 

 attachment of the eggs. The eggs are very large, 1-5 inch (5 mm.) in 

 diameter; they hatch in about 20 days (June 21 to July 15 and 17), 

 when the larva is about \ inch (5 to 6 mm.) in length. The yolk 

 sac remains fixed to its attachment about four weeks (June 20th to 

 July 22d, in one case, July 16 to August 19 in another case), 

 until it becomes nearly absorbed, when the fish swims free. The 

 larva is then about 3-5 inch (15 to 16 mm.) in length. 



In June and July eggs and larvse are frequently found in coves and along 

 muddy and grassy shores, guarded by the male. 



Food: Young fishes and all kinds of bottom invertebrates. 



Rate of Growth: On July 17, 56 young toadfish, measuring about 3-5 

 inch (15 to 17 mm.), which had been raised from the eggs in a small 

 car, were transferred to a filter car. The following table of individual 

 and average measurements shows their rate of growth : 



