INLAND FISHERIES. 57 



water was the cause of this destruction, but it appears extremely 

 probable. 



It is desirable that a further careful study be made of the life- 

 history of the organism, and of its actual destructiveuess. 



Similar phenomena have been observed in Japanese waters, and 

 specimens of the org-anism which caused the coloration of the 

 water have been sent to your commission for comparison with the 

 species found here. 



XII. Additions to the List of Fishes Known to Inhabit Nar- 



RAGANSETT BaY, WITH KeMARKS ON RaRE SPECIMENS RE- 

 CENTLY Caught. 



Pteroplatea madura (Le Sueur). " Butterfly Ray ;" " Angel Fish." 



Although the type specimen of this species was taken in Rhode 

 Island in 1817 and described by Le Sueur, it has not been pre- 

 viously reported by the commission. A specimen 28 inches long 

 was taken in the southern part of Narragansett Bay, during July 

 of this year, by the Lewis Brothers. Long Island Sound is usually 

 considered to be the limit of its northern range, but Mr. Lewis 

 says that it is foimd not infrecpiently in the Bay. This specimen 

 is preserved among the collection of Rhode Island fishes belong- 

 ing to the commission. 



Tat'pon atla7iticus {Gxwiev and Valenciennes). "Tarpon;" "Tar- 

 pum." 



Mr. H. M. Knowles, of Wakefield, R. I., is authority for the 

 statement that a tarpon 5 feet long, and so slender that it weighed 

 only 30 pounds, was taken in a fish-trap near Dutch Island 

 Harbor. This catch was noted in the Providence Journal of July 

 25, and the fish was exhibited at Narragansett Pier. A few are 

 taken in this vicinity every year, but as their flesh is dry and 

 tasteless they have very little food value. A specimen weighing 



