Introduction 3 



Cape Hatteras, together with some of the more common 

 stragglers from the regions north of Cape Cod and south 

 of Cape Hatteras and from the deep waters offshore. 



In the sections of the book deaHng with Species In- 

 formation, both the most popular of the common names 

 and the most generally accepted scientific name are given. 

 The scientific name consists of three parts. The first 

 italicized word, with the initial letter capitalized, is the 

 genus; the second italicized word is the species; and the 

 remaining word or words identify the person or persons 

 who first described the fish. The genus given is always 

 the one to which modern taxonomists assign the species. 

 Where this assignment is still that of the original describer, 

 his name follows the species without punctuation. Where 

 the modem genus assignment differs from the original 

 describer's, his name is enclosed in parentheses. 



The higher categories of classification, the subfamilies, 

 families, suborders, and orders, have been only briefly and 

 incompletely indicated in the General Information section 

 preceding descriptions for each of the various groups: 

 lampreys; sharks; sawfish, skates, and rays; true fishes. 

 The incompleteness was deliberate, in order to avoid enter- 

 ing upon an irrelevant scientific discussion of which 

 of the many proposed systems of taxonomy (Jordan, 

 Regan, Gregory, Berg) should be used. 



While every attempt has been made to use nontechnical 

 terminology in describing the various species and aspects 

 of their life history, some technical terms could not be 

 avoided. These are listed in the following paragraphs to- 

 gether with brief definitions. 



FISH and FISHES: The term ''fish" is used to describe 

 one or more individuals belonging to a single species. If 

 more than one species is being discussed, then the term 

 "fishes" is used. 



BLIND SIDE: The side of a flatfish on which there are 

 no eyes. 



EYED SIDE: The side of a flatfish on which there are 

 two eyes. 



