104 BULLETIN 150, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



of both species have been taken from the western end of their areas 

 of distribution. Bering Sea, the Okhotsk Sea, and the northern part 

 of the Japan Sea appear to be more favorable to the production of 

 large species and their existence nearer the surface of the ocean. 



The highest temperature in which a species of Careproctus has been 

 taken is a doubtful one of 59° F. for C. ranvla. The average for this 

 species is 42.2° F. None of the other species have been taken in 

 temperatures above 45° F. The majority of the species are found in 

 a temperature of 40° F. The regions inhabited by these fishes are 

 little or not at all affected by the change of the seasons. The records 

 that we have indicate that few, if any of the species, range through 

 more than 10° of temperature. 



Asiatic and American species. — The Japanese and American 

 species are mainly distinct. At present only two species, C. cypsel- 

 urus and C. colletti, are known to be common to both the American 

 and Japanese faunas. 



Regions. — Our records concerning the distribution of the species 

 of this genus are too incomplete to offer a basis for generalizing. 

 Many of the species are known from but a single locality. The data 

 that we have indicates that the North Atlantic species are different 

 from the North Pacific species. Only two species, C. cypselurus 

 and C. colletti, are recorded from both sides of the Aleutian Islands; 

 C. giTberti is a possible third species. None of the species are common 

 to the two sides of the Japanese Archipelago. The Gulf of Alaska, 

 Bering Sea, Okhotsk Sea, and the east and west coasts of Japan 

 appear to have distinctive species. None of the species of the tropical 

 Pacific have been taken in the North Pacific. We should expect to 

 find that the Arctic Current has distributed the Bering Sea species 

 southward to Japan. Our records do not indicate that this has 

 happened to any great extent. 



Careproctus, as well as Liparis, has but a meager representation 

 in the North Atlantic. Only four species are recorded from this 

 region and adjacent portions of the Arctic Ocean. Other species will 

 doubtless be discovered during further explorations but apparently 

 the genus is poorly represented in this region. 



When we compare the range of specific distribution of the species 

 of Careproctus with those of Liparis we find a similarity. We have 

 seen that some tide-pool species of Liparis range through practically 

 20° of latitude. None of the species of Careproctus are known to 

 range through more than 20° of latitude. The records that we have 

 do not indicate that these deep-water species have a wider range of 

 distribution than the shallow-water species. 



Closely related species. — The close relatives of the majority of the 

 species have yet to be discovered. In no case can the most closely 

 related species be said to inhabit the same environment. The 



