DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 



197 



thelot at tlie Canaries. It occurs rarely oii the Portuguese coast, where it is called Eaco- 

 lar, and doubtless also in Spanish waters. About the Canaries the tish is known as tlie 

 Eseolnr, a name which is said to l)e applied to members of the family Gadidw by Spanish 

 fishermen. The Escolar occurs in §reat schools about the Canaries in winter, and the 

 fishermen capture it with hook and line at a depth of a hundred fathoms or less, and its 

 flesh is highly prized. Cantraine states that it is taken at co7isiderable depths about 

 Malta. Lowe found it at jMadeira at deptiis as great as 300 and 400 fitlioms. It was found 

 by Poey in the waters of Cuba before 1854. Poey tells us that it is rarely seen in the 

 markets because of the difflculty attending its capture, for it can be caught oidy at a dei>th 

 of 300 fathoms on dark niglits in Septeudjer and the early part of October. I'oey further 

 states that when one of these fishes is brought to the surface it appears to be surrounded 

 by a globe of phosphorescent light. The Cuban fishermen go "a scholaring" {li cscolarear) 

 after the fishing for the Speartish {Tctraptiinis) has ceased, and before that for the lied 

 Snapper (LK(y'a)iMS fli/rt) begins. According to Canestrini it grows to the weight of 100 

 pounds in Sicilian waters. 



In 1891 a specimen {'So. 13746, U. S. X. M.) 49 inches in length, was taken on Georges 

 Bank, in about 41° 40' N. lat., 67° 44' W. long., in September. It was obtained by the 

 schooner M. A. Baston, Capt. Thomas Thompson, of Gloucester, and was sent by the 

 captors to the U. S. Fish Commission. Another individual, feet long, was taken from 

 the same region a few weeks later. This also was sent to the Fish Coiuiuission, and was 

 transferred to the National Museum, where its skeleton is preserved. 



NESIARCHUS, Johnson. 



Nesiarchus, Johnson, Proc. Zoijl. Soc, London, 18G3, 173. 



Body elongate, compressed, covered with small scales. Eye of moderate size. Several 

 strong fangs in the jaws; palate toothless. First dorsal fin with about 20 spines, separate 

 from the second. No detached finlets. Ventrais small, thoracic. Caudal fin present. A 

 dagger-shaped spine behind the vent. 



NEsiAitnirs NAsrTTr> 



The only species is iV. »/(,.stt^((s, obtained at Madeira, in 1801', by Johnson, and which has 

 since been captured in deep water oft' Portugal. 



NESIARCHUS N.\SUTUS. Johnson. v 



Kesiarchiis nn.v»VKS, Joiinsmn, Proc. ZoJU. Soi\ Ijondoii. 18(a, 17:!, pi. x mt.— Ci-NTiiEi:, ('h:illfn.i;iT Rrpurt, 



xxn, 1887, 37. 

 Promelhem parndoxiis, Cai'ELLo, Jorn. Sc. Aeail. Lislion, I, p. 2()0, pi. iv, ti?;. .".; ii, p. I.M; C-.tt. Vvix.. 



Portugal, 1880, Ifi.— Stkixiuchnkr, Sitz. Ak. Wi.ss. Wicii, 18S7, lo:!. 



Body very elongate, covered witli small, deciduous, (•ych)i(l scales, cousiiicuousiy marked 

 with concentric strias ; its height contained 13 times in its length. Head coiupres.-icd, its 

 flat cheeks covered with scales. A bi'oad groove between th(i eyes and on the snout. 



