24 BULLETIN 150, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



more typical deep-sea genus, are more widely distributed throughout 

 the range of the genus. In addition to the largest species the largest 

 specimens of such species as extend from the Alaskan coast to the 

 Okhotsk Sea are obtained in the latter region. The coldest tempera- 

 tures for the Pacific Ocean were taken in the southern part of the 

 Okhotsk Sea. A temperature of 30° to 31° F. is common in this 

 region in depths of 100 fathoms. The Arctic current sweeps through 

 into the Japan Sea, marine life is abundant, and with the extreme 

 low temperature the Liparids find a favorable environment for an 

 increase in size. It will be interesting to note whether the largest 

 species of other northern families are found in the Okhotsk Sea and 

 neighboring regions.^ 



Regions. — As the species are quite localized in their distribution 

 we can readily divide the area of the globe occupied by these fishes 

 into regions each of which is distinguished by a group of species not 

 found in the other regions. A few of the species are found in two or 

 three regions, but the majority are known from but a single region. 

 We have found it convenient to designate seven regions, as enu- 

 merated below. These regions are not of equal value, but are con- 

 venient for illustrating the peculiarities of the distribution of the 

 family. 



1. Asiatic region: This embraces the southern coast of Kamchatka 

 and the region southward to Japan. This region may be subdivided, 

 for the Okhotsk Sea and the Japan Sea appear to have a fauna dis- 

 tinct from that of the east coast of the Japanese Islands. 



2. Bering Sea region: This region includes Bering Sea and its shores 

 to the northward, not including the Aleutian Islands. 



3. Pacific American region: Aleutian Islands and southward to 

 California. 



4. Atlantic American region: Coast of New England to Greenland. 



5. European region: Coasts of northern Europe. 



6. Tropical Pacific region: Depths of the Pacific Ocean between the 

 Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. 



7. Antarctic region: Regions south of the Tropic of Capricorn, 

 The following table designates the species found in each region: 



' For a more detailed discussion see under Liparis and Careproctus. 



