THE FISHES OF RHODE ISLAND. 



IV. A LIST OF RARE FISHES TAKEN IN RHODE ISLAND IN 

 THE TEAR 1906. 



BY HENRY C. TRACY, A. M., 



BBOWN UNIVERSITY. 



1. Dasyatis centrura. Sting Ray. 



A small specimen 3 feet, 4 inches long, was taken August 8 in a 

 trap on the west side of Narragansett Bay, at Goose Neck, about 

 half way between Wickford Light and Fox Island. It had on its 

 head, just back of the eye, a large parasite, which was identified as 

 Branchiobdella ravenelii. The Sting Ray is said by fishermen to 

 have been much more abundant formerly than now. At the present 

 time, in Narragansett Bay, they are small and rare. 



2. Tarpon atlanticus. Tarpon. Plate I. 



An unprecedented number of these fishes were taken in Rhode 

 Island waters during the past season. This is usually a very rare 

 fish and only a very few instances of its capture here are on record, 

 though there have doubtless been cases not reported. 



For the following information we are indebted to Mr. J. G. Costello, 

 of the Newport News. On August 11, 1906, Mr. John Souza, of 

 Newport, caught three tarpon in his trap off Second Beach near 

 Purgatory. One of these weighed 97 pounds, and the other two 

 together weighed 90 pounds. A few days later, in the same trap, 

 Mr. Souza took two more, each somewhat smaller than the large one 

 above referred to. About the first of August a medium sized tarpon 

 was taken by Mr. Lawton in a trap in Mackerel Cove. 



