350 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



55. Rhombus maculatus, Girard. 



The spotted Turhot. 



Rhombus maculatus, Girard, in 7th Ann. Rep. Reg. Univ. N. Y., on 

 State Cab., 23. — Pleuronectes maculatus, Mitch. — DeKay, New York 

 Fauna, Fishes, 302, plate xlvii, fig. 151. 



Taken occasionally of small size in the surf. 



56. ACHIRUS MOLLIS, CuV. 



The Neiv York Sole. 



Achirus mollis, Cuv., Regno Anim., II. — DeKay, New York Fauna, 

 Fishes, 303, plate xlix, fig. 159. 



A few specimens were caught in the river by means of seines. The 

 species, though resident, is taken most frequently in early spring. 

 When thrown on the shore it buries itself in the sand, and is out of 

 sight in a few moments. It is familiarly known at Beesley's Point 

 under the name of hog-choker, as when seized by the hogs it doubles 

 itself up, and, filling the oesophagus, obstinately resists b}'' the scabrous 

 nature of its scales all effort on the part of the animal to swallow it. 



57. Anguilla tenuirostris, DeKay. 



Anguilla tenuirostris, DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 300, plate 



liii, fig. 173. 



As might be expected from the vast mud-flats of the bay and its 

 generally muddy bottom, eels are exceedingly abundant about Bees- 

 ley's point. In passing slowly over the shallow waters near the shore, 

 they will be seen darting out from among the sea-weeds at the bottom 

 every few rods, and may readily be captured by a skillful hand armed 

 with a gig. They can be caught readily, likewise, by means of a hook 

 and line, by bobbing, with eel-pots, and the other devices suitable to 

 the capture of the genus. Night is, of course, the best time for taking 

 them in any way. 



In winter they bed in the soft mud, to the depth of about a foot, and 

 are then easily secured by means of a broad gig or spear. 



