5 GEORGE V. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 39b A. 1915 



VIII. 



ON SOME OF THE PARASITIC COPEPODS OF THE BAY OF 



FUNDY FISH. 



By V. Stock, B.A. 

 University of Toronto. 



The above field for investigation was suggested to me by Dr. A. G. Hunts- 

 inan, Curator of the Marine Biological Station at St. Andrews, and I am greatly 

 indebted to him for the kindness and assistance in collecting the material and 

 examining the specimens. 



The work was carried on between June 15 and September 9, 1912, around 

 the Biological Station at St. Andrews and among the various islands of Passa- 

 maquoddy Bay. The parasites were collected from fish obtained by trawling, 

 hand-lining, seining and also by visiting the various fish markets and weirs 

 in the neighborhood. Occasionally also, excursions were made out into the 

 Bay with the fishermen of the surrounding villages who offered every oppor- 

 tunity to examine the fish they caught. 



/. Caligidae. 



The kind of parasitic Copepods specially investigated were those belonging 

 to the Family Caligidae. Two species only were found Caligus curtus and 

 Caligus rapax. Occasionally both forms were obtained on the same fish and 

 they were found on the surface of the head, body and fins, and in the case of 

 C rapax the dorsum of the tail immediately anterior to the caudal fin appeared 

 to be a favorite place for attachment. Only one parasite was found inside 

 the gill cover. The subjoined table gives in brief form the general information 

 obtained, and enables one to make comparison in regard to the parasites and the 

 hosts from which they were collected. 



In addition to the above species there were also examined: — Sculpins 123, 

 Mummichogs 62, Sticklebacks 30, Butterfish 28, Herring 27, Smelt 23, Perch 14, 

 Silver Hake 6, Dogfish 4, Shad 4, Mackerel 3, and also one each of Cunner, 

 Halibut, but no Caligids were found on them. 



It rnight be mentioned that in the above table there is not included an 

 instance in which 190 young cod were dumped out of a weir-seine into the 

 bottom of the boat -along with a host of other struggling fish, were examined 

 and only 3 Caligids collected from them. Another factor which should be con- 

 sidered in making comparisons is that in the table are included two instances, 

 one in which 23 specimens of C, rapax were found on one cod, and another in which 

 27 of the same species were taken off a single hake — thus raising to a consider- 

 able degree the average number found in each species. 



