474 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



FISHES COLLECTED BY THE STEAMER ALBATROSS ON THE COASTS OF 

 ALASKA AND WASHINGTON DURING THE SUMMER OF 1891. 



During tbe suminei' of 1801 the Albatross was detailed to convey to 

 Bering Sea tbe United States Bering Sea commissioners, and Fish 

 Commission work was therefore necessarily abandoned. The only col- 

 lecting done in Alaskan waters was on August 3, wbon five bauls of tbe 

 beam trawl (ISTos. 3438 to 3442, inclusive) were taken in depths of 20 to 

 51 fathoms off tbe south and west sides of St. Paul Island. Nothing of 

 si>ecial interest was secured, as will appear from tbe list which follows. 

 On her return late in August an exi)loration was made of tbe Straits of 

 Fuca and Hood Canal. Twenty-four bauls of tbe beam trawl were taken 

 in depths of 14 to 351 fathoms, and in addition some shore collecting 

 at Port Angeles, Wash. While no forms were obtained which had not 

 been previously reported on, tbe dredging in tbe Straits of Fuca was of 

 esi)ecial interest, as demonstrating the presence of a number of Alaskan 

 species not previously known to range so far south. 



PISHES DREDGED NEAR ST. PAUL ISLAND, ALASKA. 



1. Hemitripterus marmoratus Bean. 



Oue siiecimen, 5 inches long, from station 3440. A detailed description follows; 

 D. XIV, 12; A. 13; lateral line 43. Head 2| in length to base of caudal; depth 4. 

 Eye 1^ in the snout, about 5 in the head. Body densely covered with small, con- 

 ical protuberances, each with a short filamentous tip ; these are about one-sixteenth 

 of an inch long on the back, where they are longest and thickest, and become much 

 shorter below. Head and fins less densely covered; the lips, occipital area, and an 

 area around the eyes nearly smooth. A few cirri scattered over the head; a thick 

 fringe around the margin of the lower jaw. The cirri at the base of the nasal 

 spines are rather large, IJ in the eye, and bitid or trifid at tip. Head rather 

 broad and flat, provided with blunt, bony protuberances. Interorbital area broad, 

 deei)ly concave, separated from the concave occipital area by a transverse ridge. 

 Nasal spines sharp, separated by a width equal to the diameter of the eye. Supra- 

 ocular ridge prominent, with a notch, bordered posteriorly by two bony knobs; 

 occipital ridge with three, paroccipital with two prominent knobs. Preopercular 

 spines very blunt, the second the longest. 



Mouth wide; lower jaw somewhat projecting; teeth sharp, in cardiform bands 

 on the jaws, vomer, and palatines, the vomerine patch divided by a median groove. 

 Gill-membranes united, forming a broad, free fold. No slit behind the fourth gill. 

 Pseudobranchiie large. Pyloric co'ca 8. The base of the first dorsal is equal to the 

 length from its front to the snout; the dorsals are separated by a space ecjual to two- 

 thirds the diameter of the eye. Second dorsal about 1^ in the base of the spinous 

 dorsal. Dorsal spines all with long, free tii)s, the second and third spines longest; 

 the fin without distinct notch. The anal begins under the origin of the soft dorsal, the 

 length of Its base nearly eijualing that of the spinous dorsal. The pectorals reach 

 the posterior edge of the spinous dorsal, Ventrals about etjualiug length of snout. 



General color gray, with dark m.irblings. Top of head darker, the under parts 

 light. A black spot on the spinous dorsal covering the first thre(> membranes; also 

 a dark blotch on its jjostcrior part. Two black blotches below the soft dorsal are 

 continued upward on the fin. Outer third of the pectorals blacki.sh; ventrals dark, 

 with light tips. Tail with a light bar across its middle. Posterior half of occipital, 

 supraocular and nasal region, lips, and cheeks all with darker areas. 



