PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 363 



it to be identical with the European species of the same genns. In tliis 

 he was followed by Dr. DeKay, in his Fishes of New York, pn1)lished 

 in 1842. In 1845, in his Synopsis of the Fishes of iforth America, Dr. 

 Storer adoi>ted for the American cusk the name Brosmiu.s ji(ivei<eenSy 

 which had been given in 1819 by Le Suenr to a snpposed new species 

 from Marblehead, jMass., characterized in his figures and descrijitions by 

 a prolonged lower jaw and a donble barbel.* 



We believe tliat the specimen described by Le Suenr was a deformed 

 individual of the common species, but this is a mere matter of opinion, 

 and in any event the name cannot be used. In 1863, Professor Gill 

 substituted the siiecific name americaiiKs for the name flaceseeufi adox)ted 

 by Storer. 



After a careful examination and comparison of two specimens from 

 Europe (No. 17,3()6, Norway, Bergen 31useum) with specimens from Mas- 

 sacliusetts Bay, we are compelle<l to believe that the common cusk of 

 New England is identical with that of Europe. In the proportions of 

 their bodies they agree exactly, and the Norwegian specimens agree in 

 every respect with Storer's description oi Brosmius flavescensin his His- 

 tory of the Fishes of ]\Iassachusetts. The radial fin^muhe of three s])eci- 

 mens are given belQw : 



Dece.mbkr, 1676. 



ON THE MORTAliITi: OF FISHES IIV THE CiUiiF OF MEXICO IIV 1S7S. 



By I^iesit. J. P. JEFFERSON, II. S. A. 



Key West, Florida. 

 Prof. Spenoer F, Baird, 



ISmithsoniaii Imfitxtioiij Wa.shiniifoiiy I>. C: 



Professor: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 

 valued favor of October 30th, which reached me after a delay, I being- 

 absent from Fort Jefferson. This absence, coupled with my wish to get 

 all possible facts in regard to the destruction of fish in these and neigh- 

 boring waters, will account for my apparent tardiness. 



Since my communication in October another large body of the dark- 

 colored water described therein made its way down the coast, across 

 Flori<la Bay, striking Tortugas about the 20th of November, and extend- 

 ing up the reef as far as Key West, probably further. At Key W^est its- 

 aiiproacli could be seen distinctly; at first, belts of it, some narrow^ 

 others broad, came into the harbor, following the various channels lead- 

 ing to the northward, and only in these Ijelts were the fish affected; in 

 the course of twenty-four hours, however, all the water in the harbor was. 

 similarly colored, and the surface was covered with dead and dying fish. 

 * M6moires clu Miis6um, v, 1819, p. 158, pi. xvi. 



