82 DEPARTMENT OF THE yAVAL SERVICE 



11. ENEMIES. 



Only three fish have been found to have eaten the muttonfish, a sculpin (Myoxo- 

 cephalus octodecimspinosus) , a sea raven (Hemitripterus americanus), and a skate 

 (Baja laevis). The first had eaten a small specimen, 3-7 cm. in length. The other 

 two had eaten the muttonfish after the latter had taken the hook of the set line. 



12. PAEASITES. 



Considerable parasitism by nematode and platyhelminth worms occurs in the 

 alimentary tract, and by nematodes in the body muscles. Of 44 specimens examined 

 for intestinal parasites, 45 per cent contained nematodes and 35 per cent tapeworms. 

 The nematodes were kindly identified by Mr. Maurice C. Hall, of the Bureau of 

 Animal Industry, Washington, D.C., as Kathleena sp. and Echinorhynchus sp., both 

 probably undescribed species. The tapeworms have been kindly identified by Dr. 

 A. R. Cooper, University of Illinois Medical School, Chicago, 111., as Bothrimonus 

 intermedius Cooper. 



Of 41 specimens examined for body-muscle parasites from July 26 to October 15, 

 1918, 60 per cent were parasited. These were also identified by Mr. Hall as Kath- 

 leena sp. ?, probably undescribed species. Similar nematode worms have been found 

 in the body muscles of flounders (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) and cod (Gadus 

 morrhua) taken in the same region. Possibly this parasitism may be only local or 

 only occur to any extent in certain years. 



13. SUMMARY. 



The important pointe brought out in this study of the muttonfish (Zoarces) in 

 the Passamaquoddy bay region are : — 



1. That it leaves the rivers and bays in the fall of the year for the outer deeper 

 waters of the Atlantic, and returns about the end of April of the following year. 



2. That the reproductive period occurs in the autumn. 



3. That the fish is comparatively slow of growth, reaching a length of about 

 TO cm. and a weight of 69 ounces at 20 years of age. 



4. That it is a bottom feeder, feeding almost entirely upon Mollusca, Echinoder- 

 mata and Crustacea. 



14. LITERATURE CITED. 

 Bridge, T. W. 

 1904. Pishes. 



Cambridge Natural History, London. (419.) 



Clemens, Wilbert A. 



1920. The Muttonfish. 



Bull. 4, Biol. Board Can., Ottawa. 



Fryd, Carlos. 



1901. Die Otolithen der Fische. 

 Inaugural Dissertion. 



GooDE, George Browx. 



1884. The Fisheries and Fishing Industries in the United States. 

 Washington. 



