DISCUSSION OF SPECIKS AM) THEIR DISTRIBTTTION. Sfjl) 



PHYCIS cnrSS, (Walbaum), Gill. (Figure 311.) 



Bkniiius chitss, Walbatim, Artmli, 1791', ISO. 



riiycis chiixK, fJiLL, Proo. Acad. Xnt.. Sri. rhila., 1802, aST.— Goode ami Rkax, Pr<i«. IT. S. N.-ii. Mtis., x, ISS:',, 



203.— Jordan ami CJilbert, F.ull. xvi, U. S. Nat,. Miis., 7i)8. 

 Phycis amsrlcaiiiis, StoUKR, Hist. Fish. Mass., SS.— (iiJNTKKU, Cal. ImsIi. )!ri(.. Mils., iv, .'!.">:.{; ClialliMiKcr Ki'pi.it 



XXII, 1887, 89. 

 Enrhelijoiudi (imrrieanus, SCHNEIDER, lilooh'.s, Syst. Irlitli,. 1801,53. 



A Phycis -witli the length of its body 4 times the, li^ns'tli of its head, and 5 times its own 

 height. Snout obtuse, slightly iffojecting. Origin of first dorsal in vertical above tiie root, 

 of pectoral, its first ray prolonged, its length about two-sevenths that of body. Ventials 

 filamentous, their ti|)S quite beyond the origin of tln^ anal. Scales in lateral line alxml 1 10, 

 and with about rows above the lateral line under the first dorsal. 



Kadial formula: B. 0+57; A. oO. 



Many specimens apparently of this sjiecies were obtained outside of the hundred- 

 fathom curve. The Blal-e secnred examples from station cccxi, in .'>0^ 59' 30" N. lat., 70° 

 12' W. Ion., at a depth of 143 fixthoms, and from station OOCXLVI, in 40o 25' ;?5" N. lat., 71° 

 10' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 44 fathoms. The Alhafro.sf: dbtained si)eciniens from station 

 2420, in 37° 3' 20" N. lat., 74° 31' 40" W. Ion., at a depth of 104 fathoms ; from station 

 2539, in 390 59' 45" N. lat., 70o .53' W. Ion., ata de])th of 133 fathoms; from siatiou 2537, in 

 390 56' 45" N". lat., 70° 50' 30" W. Ion., at a. depth of 134 fathoms; and from station 2540. 

 in 390 58' 20" N. hit., 70^ 52' W. Ion., at a, depth of 144 fathoms. 



This is a common species along the coast of the New England States from the shoals 

 south of Cape Cod to the Gulf of St. Lawi-ence. It appears to be a bottom-living fish, rarely 

 changing locality. It is believed that they spawn thr(mghout the summer, for the young 

 fish are fimnd through all the summer months. Specimens taken at a depth of 37 fathoms 

 in a temperature of 41^F. contained well-developed ova and were apparently ready to spawn. 

 The young are frequently taken swimming on the surface on the southern coast of New 

 England in the summer, and numerous individuals have been found olf Block Island and 

 Watch Ilill, seeking shelter between the valves of a large species of scallop (Pirtcii feinii- 

 costatus) at a depth of 20 to 40 fathoms. An extensive fl.shery is carried on in winter from 

 Cape Ann, in which sometimes as many as fifty vessels are engaged. In 187.S, .at (Uou- 

 cester alone 5,000,000 pounds at least ol' this and the related species, /'. /chh/.v, were 

 landed. Fishing is carried on at night with trawls in 10 to 50 fathoms. The si)ecies has 

 been found off the coast of Virginia a< a depth of .">00 fathoms. 



PHYCIS TKXnS, (Mnrini.i.), ])K Kay. ( Fi,s;un' lill.'.) 



Gadiis leniiin, Mitciiii-T,, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc N. Y., 1811, 372. 



Phycia ienuis, De Kay, Zoiil. Now York, Fishes, 1842, 293.— Gll.l,, Pnic Aead. Xa(. Sci. I'liila.. 18i;3, 232.— 



GooDE and Bean, Bull. Mus. Coinj). ZiiJil., x, I8S3, 203.— GiiNTiiER, ('lialli-u-ier Ri-port., xxii. 18,s7, 89. 

 Phycia De Kayi, Kaup, An'hiv. fiir NatiirKi'scdiirhtf, 1, 1858, 89. 

 Phycia furcatus, Storer, Boston .Toiirii. Nat. Hist., I. 118. 



A Phycis with its body about 5i times as long as its own height, .and 4J times as long 

 as the bead. Snout obtuse, slightly projecting, considerably longer than the diameter of 

 the eye. Origin of first dorsal somewhat further behind that of pectoral than in P. chitss; 

 its second ray somewhat prolonged, about two-thirds as long as the head. Yentrals some 

 what prolonged, their tips not passing, and sometimes not reaching, the origin of the anal. 

 Pectorals more slender than in P. tenuis, and scales smaller, there being about 140 in the 

 lateral line, and about 12 rows between the origin of the first dorsal and the lateral line. 



Specimens of this species were obtained by th(^ Blah- at, station vccw, in 40~ 11' 40" 

 iSr. lat., G80 22' W. Ion., at a depth of 304 fathoms; by the Albulniss, from station 2."il.!, in 

 430 34' N. lat., 030 -)(;'.■{()" W. Ion., at a (le])th of 134 fathoms; and from station 2510, in 

 390 58' 20" N. lat., 70"' .52' W. Ion., at a depth of 144 fathoms: and a single specimen 

 (Gloucester Donation, No. 422) by the Gloucester fishermen ott'the fishing banks. 



