318 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



in this exploration. I may also mention Messrs John Stites, Willis 

 Godfrey, Washington Blackman, John Johnson, in fact, most of the 

 residents of Beesley's point. Much benefit was derived at Green- 

 port, Long Island, from the companionship of Mr. E.D. Willard, of the 

 National Hotel, Washington; while to Mr. J. Carson Brevoort, of Bed- 

 ford, Long Island, well known as the first ichthyologist in New York, 

 and surpassed by no one in his know^ledge of our marine species, I am 

 under the greatest obligations. Through the kindness of Mr. John G. 

 Bell, of New York, and Smith Herring, of Piermont, I was enabled to 

 make a complete collection of the fishes of the upper Hackcnsack and 

 Sparkill. 



It must be understood that the present article does not aim at giving 

 a complete account of the species referred to. Such descriptions of 

 color as have been given were in every case taken from the fresh and 

 living fish, the object being to place on record features not usually 

 preserved in alcoholic specimens. Of the species whose colors 

 were known not to fade or alter in spirits no notes of their peculiarities 

 in this respect were taken, while the tints of others were so evanescent 

 as to have escaped or altered before a description could be noted down. 



Very little respecting the habits or history of the species has been 

 added from other authors, nor does the nomenclature profess to be at all 

 final as to critical accuracy. To have accomplished this latter object, 

 would have required more time than is at present at my disposal, 

 involving, as it would, the entire revision of American ichthyology 

 generally. The names given are principally those of De Kay in his 

 history ot"the fishes of New York, and can thus be readily identified. 



As will be seen in the course of the article, several of the species 

 collected appear new to science ; to these I have been obliged to give 

 names for the sake of proper reference, without at the same time 

 furnishing a complete scientific description. This will, however, be 

 supplied soon through another medium — want of time preventing its 

 being done in season for the present Smithsonian Report. For import- 

 ant assistance in determining the species I am under many obligations 

 to Mr. Girard. 



The coast of New Jersey is well known to consist, lor most of its 

 extent, of a low beach with sand-hills, separated from the mainland by 

 a wide strip of low meadows filled with small ponds, and intersected 

 by creeks and thoroughtiares, which traverse it in every direction. 

 There is no rock or stone of any description, and, consequently, there 

 is a deficiency in the plants and animals which frequent rocky locali^ 

 ties. At Beesley's point there is scarcely a pebble of the smallest 

 size to be seen. 



The meadows are densely coated with grass, and are covered with 

 water only during unusually high tides. 



Beesley's point is situated at the mouth of Egg Harbor river, where 

 it empties into Great Egg Harbor bay. The water is, of course, salt at 

 this point, though somewhat diluted by the volume of fresh water 

 brought down by the river. 



The distance from the mouth of the river, or head of the ba}", to the 

 inlet on the beach, is about two or three miles ; the extreme width 

 about the same, although extending into thoroughfares, through which 



