^____ REVIEW OF LOCAL FISHES 91 



greatest depth beins contained about five and one half times in the 

 length to the base of the tail fin. The head is large and compressed and 

 the mouth arme 1 with large, characteristic, fang-like teeth which are 

 visible even when it is closed. Ghostfish and Wolf Fish are both north- 

 ern species of rare occurrence with us. 



The Eelpout is a very peculiar creature common in this vicinity at 



EELPOUT 



moderate depths, as on the fishing banks visited by anglers in pursuit 

 of the Sea Bass and other valuable species. It is somewhat elongate and 

 eel-shaped and known to the fishermen hereabouts almost uniformly as 

 "Conger Eel," although this name rightly belongs to a true eel which is 

 very dissimilar. The Eelpout may be recognized at once by the peculiar 

 formation of its fins. It has a rather high elongate back fin which stops 

 before reaching the tail, and a narrow fringe-like fin extends around the 

 end of the tail to be prolonged forward to the middle of the body as the 

 anal fin. The pectoral fins are broad and rounded, and rudimentary 

 ventral fins are situated b ^fore them at the throat. The Eelpout is a 

 grotesque and repulsive looking creature, of a strong yellow color more 

 or less mottled with darker. The peculiar Slippery Dick is another 

 northern form occasionally taken here in fall. It has an elongate body 

 with a low unbroken fin which starts on the back above the pectoral and 

 extends around the tail and forward to the vent as the anal. There are no 

 ventral fins, unless a forked barbel on either side below the corner of the 

 mouth be considered as such. 



XV. The Codfishes 

 (Anacanthini) 



The Codfishes abound in cold northern seas swimming at moderate 

 depths. Many of them are prized for food and they have perhaps always 

 formed the most important factor in the fisheries of English speaking 

 people. Ordinarily they do not occur on our coast near shore south of 

 Cape Cod, except in the winter time when several species regularly 



