REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 77 



adjusted in accordance with seasonal changes of temperature and 

 also with the variations in the abundance of food in particular 

 localities. 



II. Reproduction. Practically nothing is known of the breeding 

 habits of this species. It has never been found with mature eggs, 

 nor is there any record that anyone has ever seen any of the younger 

 stages. Goocle states that the smallest specimens certainly known 

 were eight or nine inches in length. The above considerations seem 

 to indicate the probability that the summer flounder spawns in 

 deep water away from the shores in the winter, and that the young 

 do not enter shallow water until they have reached an advanced 

 stage of development. 



III. Food. Their food is like that of most of the flat-fishes; it 

 consists of small fishes, crustaceans, molluscs, sand-dollars and 

 squid. Specimens taken from trap usually have such fishes as 

 butter-fish and scup in their stomachs, though these they have 

 probably eaten from necessity on account of the artificial conditions 

 under which they are confined. 



IV. Size. The average length is from 16 to 30 inches, and the 

 average weight about 2^ pounds. Exceptionally it reaches a length 

 of 3 feet and a weight of 15 pounds. 



THE FOUR SPOTTED FLOUNDER. 



(Pamlichthys ohlongus. ) 



Plate IV. 



I. Distribution and Habitat. The limits of the geographical range 

 of this species have never been very accurately determined. Its 

 distribution is apparently very limited, since it is not recorded south 

 of New York and has been taken only very rarely north of Cape Cod. 

 In 1877 a single specimen v.as captured at the mouth of Salem 

 harbor by the United States Fish Commission. It is said to be 

 most abundant on the coast of New York and the neighboring; 



