394 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The rich results which invariably followed the use of the trawl at 

 depths of ],()(►() fathoms and over indicate the direction which future 

 explorations of the Albatross should take in the Pacific. The shallower 

 waters and modei-ate depths of the continontal platform have been fairly, 

 if not exhaustively, explored; but the slope between the l,()(»0-fathom 

 line and oceanic depths is practically unknown. As already stated, it is 

 especially to be regretted that so little work could be done in the deeper 

 waters of lUning Sea during- the summer of 18!)(). 



The most characteristic feature of the tish fauna of California is the 

 extreme abundance and variety of three groui)S of fishes — the ''rock- 

 fishes" {Schastodes), tha 1\oimderii (including numerous characteristic 

 genera and si)ecies), and the viviparous surf-fishes [Emhioiocida'). All 

 these are greatly reduced in numbers to the northward, and the fauna of 

 Bering Sea assumes in consequence a very different appearance. The 

 "surf-fishes" wholly disappear before reaching the Aleutian Islands; l)ut 

 two or three species of rockflsh are sparingly present, and the tlounders 

 are diminished in numbers and represented by forms s\\<^\\ ixii Hippoglos- 

 sus, Atheresthcs, Pleuronectes, and Limanda, more nearly allied to those 

 of the North Atlantic than are the predominating species of California. 



To replace these lacking forms, we have at the north large additions 

 to the families CotUdrv, Af/onid(v, Lipayldidw^ and Blenniidw, those added 

 being again close aflfines of ]S^orth Atlantic species, with which many of 

 them have, indeed, been considered identical. One of the most inter- 

 esting results of the present investigation has been the discovery that 

 several of these are distinguishable from their North Atlantic repre- 

 sentatives by small but constant characters. Should these distinctions 

 be verified, it will indicate that the icy seas of the Arctic have long been 

 a barrier to the passage of these species. Of the marine fishes collected 

 the following only are now considered by us common to the two oceans: 



Leptoblenuins iiiil)ilns. 

 Oymuelis viridis. 

 Hippoglossns liip])oglossns, 



A reduction in this list may be expected when adequate series from 

 both oceans can be brought together for comparison. 

 The following S])ecies are here described as new: 



Mallotus villosns. 

 Pyjrostcus pnngitius. 

 Icelus biconii.s. 



PholiH fasciatns. 

 Sticha'us pniictatiis. 

 Leptocliuiis rnaciilatus. 



Raja abyssicola. 

 Raja alentica. 

 Bathylagiis borealis. 

 Scbastolohiia altivcliH. 

 Icolus viciiialis. 

 Icclns oaiialiciilatiiH. 

 Ict^lns H])iui.ii;cr. 

 Ic(!linu8 boroalia. 

 ArtiMliolliis pacificns. 

 Cottiis alcuticns. 

 AcaiithocottuH scllaris. 

 Acaiith()(!ottns lati<'e])s. 

 Acaiithoc'ottns profiiii- 



(loruni. 

 Triglo^is boaiii. 

 Tri}jjl()i)s ,soei>ticu.s. 

 Trijilojis xciiostetbus. 

 Elanuka, new genus. 



Elanura fordoata. 

 Oligocottus acnticops. 

 Paricc^liims thobmni. 

 A8])i(I<)iib oroides barton i. 

 Odoiitopyxis l(')>torhyiicbn8. 

 Odontopyxis Iron at us. 

 Xeiiochirus alascanus. 

 Parali))aris bolomclas. 

 Parali))aris ulocbir. 

 Caroproctus ectenes. 

 Caroproctns colletti. 

 Careproctus ])hasma. 

 (!ar(iproctus ostentnni. 

 (Mir(!i)ro<'t.u8 siimis. 

 GvHixicirriiYs, n. gen. 

 Gyriuicbtbys nilnytremus. 

 WiiiNoi.U'AiMs, iicwgonns 

 Rbinolipari-s barlmlifer. 



Liparis cyolostignia. 

 Lipans lucensis. 

 Hatiiyphasma, new genus. 

 Hatbypbasnia ovigeruni. 

 Lktiiotukmi's, now genus. 

 Lctbotn-nnis mnticus. 

 Le]>t(>b]eiiiiius maekayi. 

 LvcoNix TK.s, new genus. 

 Lycoiioctea aleutensis. 

 Lycodos jtalearis. 

 Lyeodapus extonsns. 

 Lycoilapiis parvieeps. 

 DKiiKroDiciiTHVs, n. gen. 

 I)erepodic]itbysale]>idotiKS. 

 Noiuatoimrns cycloleiiiii 

 Cbaliniira (iliCera. 

 Liiuauda probuseidea. 



