72 



DEPARTMENT OF THE XATAL SERVICE 



coiled up in the darkest parts, but when disturbed swam swiftly and with power. The 

 character of the food and the absence of swim bladders indicate that they are bottom 

 dwellers. During the summer months they are comparatively abundant in Passama- 

 quoddy bay and in the lower portions of the St. Croix river. A few were taken in 1918 

 at a point about six miles up the St. Croix river and outward in the Bay of Fundy at 

 the Wolves islands. In the course of the study specimens have been examined from the 

 following localities: St. Croix river, Passamaquoddy bay, Bay of Fundy, including 

 localities near the island of Grand Manan, Campobello island and the Wolves islands, 

 St. Mary's bay, N.S., Miramichi bay (near Loggieville), Cheticamp (Cai)e Breton 

 island) and giilf of St. Lawrence. They are most commonly taken by means of set 

 lines but are also taken on hand lines, in herring traps, seines, lobster traps and 

 various kinds of trawls. Young specimens are occasionally fovmd around rocks and 

 in seaweed along the shore during ebb tide. They occur on practically every variety 

 of bottom in this region and at depths up to 55 metres. The following are the set 

 line and shrimp trawl records for the Passamaquoddy bay region, with the addition 

 of one record off Cai>e Breton island and another in Miramichi bay. 



SET LINE RECORDS. 



Date. 



Locality. 



Sets. 



Bait. 



No. Zoarces 



per 3,000 



hooks. 



1917. July 21 to Sept. 1 



1917, June 29 to Aug. 24... 



1917, Oct. 9 



1917,Sept.25 



1918, June 18 to June 27.. . 

 1918, May 31 to Aug. 19... 

 1918, June 28 to Aug. 13... 

 1918. July 18 



1918. July 19 



1919, Jan. 7 to May 16. . . . 

 1919, Jan. 13 to April 7.... 



1919, July 22 to Sept. 9... 

 1919, May 22 to Aug. 19.. 



Off Cheticamp (Cape Breton Island) 



St. Croix river 



St. Croix river 



Passamaquoddy bay 



Miramichi bay 



St. Croix river 



St. Croix river 



Passamaquoddy bay 



Wolves islands. Bay of Fundy 



Pass amaquoddy bay 



Bay of Fundy (outside Passamaquoddy 



bay) 



St. Croix river 



St. Croix river 



Squid and Mus 



sel 



Clam 



Herring 



Herring 



Gaspereaux 



Clam 



Herring 



Herring 



Herring 



Herring 



Herring 



Clam 



Herring 



6 



22 



14 



105 



9 



30 



12 



6 



1 











41 



6 



SHRI.MP TRAWL RECORDS. 



The outstanding points in these records are: — 



1. That the muttoufish is apparently absent from the St. Croix river and Passama- 

 quoddy bay during at least four months of the year, from January to April. 



2. The proportionately large capture in Passamaquoddy bay on September 25, 

 1917, may indicate a migration from the rivers into the bay prior to further migra- 

 tion into the Bay of Fundy. 



3. The capture of a specimen on April 9, 1918, in the Bay of Fundy at a depth 

 of 93 metres may be additional evidence of winter spent in the outer waters. 



4. Where comparison is possible, clams (Mya arenarla) appear to be a better bait 

 than herring (Chipca harengus). This agrees with the results of the food study, 

 which shows that molluscs form a very important part of the food, wherea.s fish are 

 seldom eaten. 



