398 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Prickles small, uniforiu, entirely covering? upper surface, iududing tins aud tail, 

 excepting only the base of ventrals, which arc nearly smooth. No spines or enlarged 

 jtrickles above orbits. An elongate patch of slightly enlarged prickles in front of 

 lach eye, the two converging forward, separated from orbit posteriorly by two- 

 thirds diameter of eye. Prickles somewhat enlarged toward tip of snout, not 

 spine-like. The median row of spines on back begins immediately behind occiput, 

 continues without interruption to dorsal, and. contains 'Si) spines in addition to the 

 2 between dorsal tins. A narrow band of slightly enlarged prickles on each side of 

 tail. Dorsal lius uniformly prickly. Bucklers on jjcctorals in 20 rows, or 7 in 

 broadest row. Two or three cniarged spines on shoulder. 



Entire under surface of snout and a band extending along most of anterior edge 

 of disk prickly. Under surface of pectorals otherwise smooth. IJelly smooth. An 

 area immediately in front of vent minutely prickly, as is also the thoracic region. 

 Lower side of tail inickly except at base. Ventrals smooth below. 



Width of disk slightly less than distance from tip of tail to shoulder, 1,\ times its 

 own length. Length of tail equaling distance from its root to middle of snout. 

 Teeth i|. Dorsals high, about equal in size, their oblique height equaling length of 

 base, which is one-third greater than interspace. Claspers long, smooth. 



Dusky olive, witli ill-deliued light areas; no ocellated spots. Below white; an 

 elougate brown blotch on each side of snout, and a smaller median streak. Lower 

 side of tail brownish ilusky. Angle aud posterior margin of disk below broadly 

 edged with brown. A large brownish blotch about anus, aud some smaller scattered 

 marks. 



7. Raja trachura Gilbert. 



A second siiccimen of this interesting deep-sea ray was dredged at station 3338, 

 south of the Shumagin Islands, Alaska, at a depth of 625 fathoms. The specimen is a 

 female, 222 mm. long, aud answers well to the descriptiou of the type. 



Family CHIMiERIDiE. 



8. Hydrolagus coUiei (Bennett). Eatfish; Ehphaia-fish. 

 Station 3350, near Point Reyes, Cal. ; depth, 75 fathoms. 



Family CLUPEIDiE. The Herrings. 



9. Clupea pallasi Cuvier & Valenciennes. CaUfornia Herriny. 



Clupta mirahilis Girard. 

 This herring was seen in Departure Bay, Vancouver Island, May 10 to 13; in 

 IJualaska Harbor June 16 aud July 31, and in Herendeeu Hay, Alaska Peninsula, 

 July 5. In Departure Bay they were swimming in sidiools about the wharves aud 

 sliips. It was noticed tliat when not disturbed all would swim slowly in tlie same 

 direction with the gill-covers widely open and rigidly set, their obli(]Ue silvery 

 surfaces giving bright reUections and renderiug the lish very conspicuous when seeu 

 from above. If suddenly alarmed, the gill-covers of all were simultaneously closed 

 down, aud renuiined so during whatever rapid maneuvers followed. In this condi- 

 tion it was very diflicult to follow their movements. Young salmon were feediug 

 upon them at the time of our visit. In Unalaska Harbor they were present in great 

 numbers the middle of June, but were not seen May 21, at the time of our first visit. 

 They were very large and in excellent condition, and seemed superior to the same 

 species when taken on the California coast. 



