KF.rOHT OK COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 39 



any of tlio sjiecics incliKlecl. 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." 



It is the purpose of this present paper to complete and extend 

 as far as possil)le the list of fishes above referred to, and also to 

 include under the name of each species in the list such notes as will 

 contain whatever information is in the possession of the Commission 

 regarding its alnindance, time of occurrence, habits, etc. It seems 

 best to bring these notes together at this time as a matter of per- 

 manent record, although they are necessarih' of a fragmentary and 

 incomplete nature. Thej" are intended rather as a basis of investiga- 

 tion which may result in a future comprehensive paper than as any 

 important contribution to our knowledge of the fishes mentioned. 



The original list was intended to contain only those fishes which 

 were known to inhabit Narragansett Bay. But it is impossible 

 to adequately understand the life history of many of our important 

 food fishes, most of which are pelagic and migratory in their habits 

 during a considerable portion of their existence, unless the fish 

 fauna of the open water is included in our investigation. Further- 

 more, the offshore fisheries between Newport and Sakonnet and 

 those of Block Island are of great importance to the citizens of 

 Rhode Island; and the rich variety of rare species already known 

 to have been taken in those waters is of great scientific interest. 

 For these reasons it has seemed best to extend the list so as to include 

 ever}' fish which has been known to be present in the waters of 

 Rhode Island, using that term broadly to include, besides Narragan- 

 sett Bay. the fresh water streams of the state, and the open waters 

 of the ocean bordering on the southern shores of the state and of 

 Block Island. 



The material used in the preparation of this list has been derived 

 from the following sources: 



1. The "List of Fishes in Narragansett Bay," by Dr. H. C. 

 Bumpus, referred to above. 



