412 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The species is represented in our collection principnlly from Bristol Bay, a few 

 Bpecimens only from farther west in Bering Sea. Stations 3224, 3250, 3251, 3252, 3253, 

 3254, 3255, 3256, 3279, 3280, 3282, 3283, 3285, 3292, 3293, 3302, 3303, and 3306 ; depths 17^ to 

 121 fathoms. 



52. Icelus spiniger sp. nov. (Plate 24.) 



Closel J' resembling /. hicornis, but differing conspicuously in the armature of the 

 dorsal series of plates, in the comparatively plane occiput, and in other characters. 

 Head 2* to 3 in length; depth 5. Caudal peduncle very slender, its depth 2^ in 

 orbit. Mouth large, the maxillary reaching slightly beyond middle of orbit, its 

 length one-half head. Teeth very finely villiform, present in rather wide bands in 

 jaws and on vomer and palatine bones. Nasal spines strong, separated by the high 

 ascending processes of the premaxillaries. Interorbital space very narrow, grooved, 

 its width less than one-half diameter of pupil. The orbital rim becomes elevated 

 anteriorly and posteriorly, and is, at the latter point, strongly denticulated. Behind 

 the orbital region the occiput is shallowly concave, being bounded laterally by two 

 low, evenly rounded ridges, which become narrower posteriorly, and end each in a 

 strong spine projecting backward in line with the series of dorsal prickles. The 

 preopercular spines are similar to those of /. hicornis, the uppermost, as in the latter, 

 occasionally simple instead of bifurcate. The second spine is usually directed 

 straight backward, and the two following downward and forward. 



The gill-membranes are broadly united, free from the isthmus, and neither pore 

 nor slit exists behind the innermost gill. Branchiostegals, 6. Eye large, longer 

 than snout, 3 to 3^ in head in adults. A slender tentacle present over the posterior 

 part of each orbit. A series of plates extends from nape along each side of dorsals 

 to back of caudal peduncle, and a second series along lateral line, as in I. bicornis. 

 The dorsal series contains 28 to 35 plates, each of which bears at its center a single 

 strong spine directed outward and backward. In /. hicornis each plate is trav- 

 ersed by an oblique ridge, the edge of which is denticulated, the central tooth 

 being the strongest and corresponding to the single spine present in 1. spiniger. The 

 latter agrees with /. canaUcuJatua in having an inner series of dorsal plates alternat- 

 ing with the principal series, each of the smaller plates bearing a minute prickle, 

 discernible with difficulty. The plates along the lateral line, 41 to 44 in number, 

 are similar to those in I. hicornis, having their upper and posterior free margins 

 serrulate. A few scattered spinous plates present in axillary region. Dorsal fins not 

 connected, the spines very slender and rather high. Pectorals long, reaching front of 

 anal; ventrals not reaching veni;. 



Dorsal ix-20; anal 17; pectoral 18; ventral i, 3. Longest specimen, 118 mm. 



Color: Light olivaceous above, white below, the upper parts mottled with dark 

 brown. The back has four faint black crossbars, the first under spinous dorsal, the 

 second and third under soft dorsal, the fourth at base of caudal. A brown blotch 

 on cheek, one on base of pectoral, and an irregular series along full length of body 

 just under lateral line. Two prominent black blotches on first dorsal; the secoud 

 dorsal, caudal, and pectoral barred; other fins unmarked. Mouth and gill-cavity 

 ■white. 



Numerous specimens from stations 3216, 3223, 3224, 3225, 3226, 3257, 3258, 3263, 3267, 

 3278,3279, 3280, 3292, 3302, 3311,33.34, and 3.336, in 17 to 121 fathoms. These stations 

 are located in the vicinity of llnalaska Island and in Bristol Bay, Alaska. 



53. Icelua canaliculatus sp. nov. (Plate 24.) 



A deep-water species, with conspiciious mucous canals and pores, thin cranial 

 bones, and rather plain blackish coloration. In other characters it stands some- 

 what intermediate between /. hicornis ;ind I. spiniger. The dorsal plates have the 

 serrulated cross ridge of /. hicornis, while the occiput is but shallowly concave, with 

 low bounding ridges ending behind in strong spuies, and the posterior rim of the orbit 

 is elevated and denticulated, as in /. spiniger. In its anterior portion, at least, the 



