A NEW PELICAN FISH FROM THE PACIFIC 



By barton a. BEAN 



During a morning watch in June, 1900, half-way between Mid- 

 way islands and Guam, on the U. S. Naval Ship Nero, there was 

 brought to the surface what is believed to be the first pelican fish 

 recorded from the Pacific ocean. The specimen was entangled 

 on the sounding wire, near the sinker, the depth of the ocean at the 

 point of capture being between 2000 and 3000 fathoms. The 

 steamer was engaged at the time in a survey for the Transpacific 

 telegraph cable, and it was during this voyage that the greatest 

 depth of water ever recorded was discovered, being 5269 fathoms, 

 in 12° 43' 15" N. lat. ; 145° 49' 00" W. long. 



GASTROSTOMUS PACIFICUS new species 



Length of preserved portion 14^ inches (tail end of body want- 

 ing) ; length of cranium yg- of an inch, equal to its width ; length 

 of upper jaw 3^4 inches; distance from tip of snout to origin of 

 dorsal fin a little more than ^ length of upper jaw; the depth of 

 body at angle of jaws is about y^ of the length of upper jaw ; the 

 gill slit is under the 12th dorsal ray ; the first anal ray is under 

 the 34th dorsal ray. Dorsal and anal rays high, the highest about 

 i/^ length of upper jaw. 



This species differs from Gastrostomus bairdii Gill, the Atlantic 

 form, in having a more robvist body and higher fin rays. The 

 single specimen known is badly mutilated, and better material, 

 should other captures of the fish be made, will doubtless show many 

 points of difference from the Atlantic species. We are indebted 

 to Dr. J. M. Flint, U.S.N, (retired), for assistance in obtaining 

 the records of this interesting capture. 



The type is No. 50,724, U. S. National Museum. The accom- 

 panying illustration (figure 31) was made by Mr. A. H. Baldwin. 



254 



