TCHTHYOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 457 



138. Gadus macrocephalus Tilesius. Pacific cod. 



It has been frequently pointed out and is well known to fishermen that the Pacific 

 codfish has a smaller air-bladder, or "sound," than the Atlantic cod. Pending an 

 examination of this question, which we are not now in a position to make, we 

 propose to recognize the Pacific fish as a distinct species. A report on the cod banks 

 of Bering Sea, based on the operations of the Albatross, has been given by A. B. 

 Alexander. (Report of Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, 1889-91, p. 280.) An 

 occasional specimen was taken in the dredge, the species being recorded from 

 stations 3224, 3226, 3285, 3291, and 3301, in Bering Sea; depths 17 to 128 fathoms. 



139. Pollachius chalcogrammus (Pallas). 



A few adults were taken by trolling in Captains Harbor, Unalaska. Young speci- 

 mens, 4 to 6 inches long, were dredged in great abundance in the shallow water of 

 Bristol Bay and around the Aleutian Islands, at stations 3217, 3222, 3231, 3232, 3233, 

 3234, 3235, 3236, 3237, 3238, 3239, 3240, 3245, 3246, 3248, 3250, 3252, 3253, 3255, 3256, 3259, 

 3273, 3278, 3279, 3281, 3282, 3285, 3286, 3294, 3298, 3301, 3309, and 3310; depths 5 to 71 

 fathoms. 



Family MACRURIDiE. 



140. Macrurus acrolepis Bean. 



Not taken in Alaskan waters, but found abundant off Vancouver Island, Washing- 

 ton and Oregon, at stations 3340, 3346, 3347, and 3348; depths 345 to 786 fathoms. 



141. Macrurus cinereus sp. nov. 



Snout high and blunt, but little overlapping the mouth, terminating in a pointed 

 prolongation of the median ridge, which bears at its tip a bony tubercle furnished 

 with radiating ridges. The nasal ridges also terminate in shorter and smaller, but 

 similar tubercles, the outline between rostral and nasal tubercles concave. Length 

 of snout slightly less than diameter of orbit, 3f to 4 in head, its tip overpassing the 

 premaxillaries for two-thirds its length. Mouth of moderate size, the maxillary 

 reaching vertical from hinder margin of orbit, eqiialing length of snout and half of 

 eye. Teeth finely villiform in both jaws, the outer series not at all enlarged, the 

 mandibular baud narrow. Barbel short and slender, its length less than half diam- 

 eter of pupil. Interorbital width six-sevenths diameter of orbit, equaling length of 

 snout. Preopercle greatly expauded, much overlapping the interorbital below, leav- 

 ing exposed only the extreme posterior angle. Gill-membranes narrowly joined, 

 with a posterior fold free from the isthmus. Gill-rakers short, compressed, almost 

 tubercular, 2-f 12. 



Origin of dorsal well behind base of pectorals. Second dorsal spine long and 

 filamentous, strongly serrate, except on extreme base and tip. Length of spine five- 

 sixths to six-sevenths head. Base of first dorsal equaling diameter of orbit. Inter- 

 space between dorsals two-thirds to two-fifths base of first dorsal. Pectoral long 

 and slender, equaling length of head behind anterior nostril opening, about as long 

 as the filamentous outer ventral ray. Vent immediately in front of anal origin. 

 Scales on sides well imbricated, each with 7 to 9 parallel ridges, which bear short 

 sharp spines directed very obliquely backward. 



Dorsal ii, 10 or 11 ; ventral 9. Seven scales between lateral line and base of first 

 dorsal. 



Color uniform light-grayish on body and fins, with the exception of the blackish 

 pectorals and ventrals. Sides of head silvery. Mouth, gill-cavity, and peritoneum 

 brownish or purplish black, gill membranes and gular membrane dusky. 



Numerous specimens from north of Unalaska Island (stations 3307 and 3329, depths 

 1,033 and 399 fathoms), and from the North Pacific, south of Ookamok Island (sta- 

 tion 3340, depth 695 fathoms). 



