278 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [42] 



continuation of the southern or West Indian Gulf Stream fauna. On 

 the lower i)art of the slope, in 150 to 780 fathoms, we tiud numerous 

 Arctic forms of life, corresponding to the lower temperature which, in 

 300 to 500 fathoms, is usually 40'=' to 41^ Fahrenheit. On the inshore 

 plateau, which is occupied by a branch of the cold Arctic current, we 

 also find Arctic, species of animals. Probably no other equally large 

 parr of the ocean basin in similar depths has been so fully examined 

 as this region. * * * 



" Probably the total number of species of animals already obtained 

 by us is not less than 800. The number already identified or described 

 and entered on our lists of the fauna of this belt is about 650. This 

 number includes neither the Foraminifera nor the Entomostraca, which 

 are numerous, and but few of the sponges. Of this list less than one- 

 half were known on our coast before 1880, and a large number were 

 entirely unknown to science. Of fishes there are perhaps 70 si^ecies. 

 Of the whole number already determined about 265 are Mollusca, in- 

 cluding 14 Cephalopoda ; 85 are Crustacea, 60 are Echinodermata, 35 

 are Anthozoa, 65 are Annelida. 



"Although the Tile-fish remained unknown, both to naturalists and 

 fishermen, until three years ago, it has already become somewhat 

 famous. One of these fish was sent to Messrs. Goode and Bean, of the 

 United States Fish Commission, for examination. It proved to be a 

 remarkable new species, belonging to a new genus, and they imme- 

 diately named and described it. The fish is bright colored, and covered 

 with round, golden-yellow specks. Large ones are over 3 feet long 

 and may weigh 40 to 50 pounds. In 1880 and 1881 the Fish Commis- 

 sion endeavored to test the abundance and range of this fish and also 

 its edible qualities. It was taken by our steamer on several occasions 

 during these two years by means of a long trawl-line, at different local- 

 ities, many miles apart, along the warm belt of the Gulf Stream slope 

 in 100 to 130 fathoms. Therefore it is doubtless a southern species, and 

 will hereafter probably be found off our southern coast, or even in the 

 Gulf of Mexico, at suitable depths. On one occasion, in 1881, we took 

 80 of these fishes, weighing 500 pounds, at one haul. The fish, after a 

 satisfactory trial by many competent judges, was proved to be a val- 

 uable food-fish. 



"After a severe storm last winter many vessels reported seeing great 

 quantities of dead fishes of a strange kind floating at the surface of 

 the sea in the same region where the Tile-fish had been discovered. 

 These dead fishes were perfectly fresh and wholesome, Mithout any 

 appearance of disease or violence. Many of them were eaten. Some 

 were sent to Washington for identification, and they proved to be Tile- 

 fish. The dead fishes were reported as occurring abundantly- over a 

 large area — perhaps 5,000 square miles or more. Theie must have been 

 millions of pounds wasted. It became, therefore, a matter of great in- 

 terest and importance for the Fish Commission to ascertain during the 



