REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 65 



TRICHIURID^. The Cutlas-Fishes. 



80. Trichiurus lepturus (Linnaeus). Cutlas-fish; Scabbard-fish. 



Geog. Dist.: Warm seas, chiefly of western Atlantic; north to Cape Cod. 



Season in R. I. : A few stragglers taken nearly every year. Specimen taken 

 by Mr. J. M. K. Southwick, Newport, November 16, 1899. Specimen 3 

 feet 8 inches long caught in a trap at Newport, 1901. This is the largest 

 specimen recorded from New England waters. Several smaller specimens 

 taken in the Bay the same year. Several specimens have been taken by 

 the Lewis Brothers in their traps in Narragansett Bay at various times. 



ISTIOPHORID^. The Sail-Fishes. 



81. Tetrapturus imperator (Bloch & Schneider). Spearfish. 



Geog. Dist. : West Indies north to Cape Cod. 

 Season in R. I.: Very rare. 



XIPHUD^. The Sword-Fishes. 



82. Xiphias gladius (Linnseus). Swordfish. 



Geog. Dist.: Atlantic Ocean on both coasts, most abundant between 

 Cuba and Cape Breton. Common off Cape Cod and Newfoundland Banks. 

 Common off Southern Europe and found in the Pacific. 



Season in R. I. : In 1905 they began to reach George's Banks about June 16. 

 Twenty-two were taken in one day, 61 in a week. Began to reach Block 

 Island June 26, when 13 were taken. One seen off Sakonnet Point July 

 18. Leave Rhode Island waters in September. Abundant in 1905, and 

 extremely so in 1904. 



Food: Contents of the stomach show fishes like cod, hake, and squids. 



CARANGID.^. The Pompanos, Amber-Fishes, etc. 



83. Oligoplites saurus (Bloch & Schneider). Leather- jacket. 



Geog. Dist.: Both coasts of tropical America, common in West Indies, 



north to Woods Hole. 

 Season in R. I.: Very rare. Only one specimen is on record from Rhode 



Island waters; taken September 10, 1886, at Newport. 



