Specimens: (PLATE 18) 



This anadromous species which was once plentiful in all the 

 coastal rivers and streams of the state is now restricted to the 

 Pawcatuck River, Taunton River and a small area of Mount Hope 

 Bay. Their spawning migrations occur in the spring. On March 11, 

 1958, smelt were first observed and captured in the Pawcatuck 

 River on their annual run. They ranged in size from 8 to 12 inches 

 (TL). Additional information and photographs of this species can 

 be found in Gordon (1958 a). 



Economic Importance: 



This species has widespread appeal as a table fish. 



Family Synodontidae 

 Genus Synodus 



(52) Synodus foetens (Linnaeus) 1766 

 Lizard fish, sand pike 



Specimens: 



A nine inch (TL) lizard fish was taken by the trawler Jane Dore 

 on October 10, 1957, six miles east of Watch Hill Point. A lizard 

 fish was taken by J. Watson on October 8, 1957, NW of Hope 

 Island in Narragansett Bay. This is a rare straggler from southern 

 waters, and a few are taken each fall in Rhode Island waters. 



Family Esocidae 

 Genus Esox 



(53) Esox niger (LeSueur) 1818 

 Eastern pickerel, chain pickerel 



Specimens: 



The pickerel is a fresh water species but it has been recorded from 

 salt water environments. During 1957, D. Horton found pickerel in 

 the upper Pettaquamscutt River with the salinity ranging from 

 seven to ten parts per thousand (Horton 1958). 



Family Anguillidae 

 Genus Anguilla 



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