THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA, 43 
Alosa sapidissima Storer. Shad. 
Several specimens taken in the seines, at Great Egg Harbor, April, 
1871, contained finely-divided fragments of numerous Crustacea, among 
which were shrimp, Mysis americana. 
Several from the mouth of the Connecticut River, May, 1872, contained 
fragments of small Crustacea, (Mysis, &e.). 
Pomolobus mediocris Gill. Hickory Shad. 
Several specimens taken in the seines at Great Egg Harbor, April, 
1872, contained large quantities of fragmentary Crustacea; one con- 
tained recognizable fragments of shrimp, Crangon vulgaris. © 
Brevoortia tyrannus (Latrobe) Goode. Menhaden. 
A large number of specimens freshly caught in seines at Great Ege 
Harbor, April, 1871, were examined, and all were found to have their 
stomachs filled with large quantities of dark mud. They undoubtedly 
swallow this mud for the sake of the microscopic animal and vegetable 
organisms that it contains. Their complicated and capacious digestive 
apparatus seems well adapted for this crude and bulky food. 
Raia diaphana Mitch. Common Skate; “Summer Skate.” 
A specimen taken at Wood’s Holl, May 14, contained rock-crabs, 
Cancer irroratus; a young skate; a long slender fish (Ammodytes ?). 
Another, caught in July, contained Cancer trroratus. 
Raia levis (?) Mitch. Peaked-nose Skate. 
Specimens caught in Vineyard Sound, May 14, contained numerous 
shrimps, Crangon vulgaris; several Conilera concharum; several Annelids, 
among them Nephthys ingens; Meckelia ingens; two specimens of Phasco- 
losoma Gouldii; razor-shells, Hnsatella Americana (the “ foot” only, of 
many specimens); a small fish, Ctenolabrus burgall. Specimens taken at 
Menemsha, in July, contained large numbers of crabs, Cancer irroratus; 
and of lobsters, Homarus americanus. 
Trygon centrura Gill. Sting-ray. 
Specimens caught at Wood’s Holl, in July and August, contained 
large numbers of crabs, Cancer irroratus; squids, Loligo Pealii; clams, 
Mya arenaria; Lunatia heros. 
Myliobatis Freminvillei Les. Long-tailed Sting-ray. ; 
Specimens taken in Vineyard Sound, in July, contained an abundance 
of lobsters, Homarus americanus ; crabs, Cancer tirroratus ; also clams, 
Mya arenaria; and Lunatia heros. 
Pteroplatea maclura Mill. & Henle. Butterfly Ray. 
One specimen examined contained menhaden (Lrevoortia tyrannus 
Goode). Wood’s Holl, 1871. KE. Palmer. 
Eulamia obscura Gill. Dusky Shark. 
Several specimens caught at Wood’s Holl, in July and August, con- 
tained lobsters, Homarus americanus; rock-crabs, Cancer irroratus. 
One specimen contained a flat-fish, in the stomach of which were star- 
fish and clam-shells. The common ray is often the food of this species 
