Distribution of the Adult. 



33 



Along the American side of the Atlantic, Lophius piscatorius is most common 

 in the comparatively shallow water of the New England coast, and in the deeper 

 water in the vicinity of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. It also occurs as far 

 south as the Caribbean Sea. Gill (1905) seems to think that south of Cape Cod 

 the Angler retreats to deep water in summer, but that, although quite common 

 along many coasts in shallow water, it appears to be at home in deep water. He 

 states that its range of distribution in the Atlantic lies between '32° and 60° F., 

 perhaps even higher. 



Tate Regan (1914) records the capture of Lophius piscatorius off Cape Frie 

 (Brazil) at 22° 56' S. ; 41° 34' W., in a depth of 40 fathoms. 



The most general survey of its distribution on the European side of the Atlantic, 

 from a commercial point of view, is given by Murray and Hjort (1912), who have 

 compiled tables from the statistics published by Dr. Kyle, of the International 

 Bureau for the Study of the Sea, up to the year 1906. These tables show the 

 relative and absolute importance of different marketable species within the different 

 European fishing areas. The data relative to Lophius piscatorius have been ex- 

 tracted from these tables. 



Lophius piscatorius. ' 

 Relative and Absolute Importance from each area (Murray & Hjort). 



These figures do not give an exact representation of the numbers taken on the 

 various fishing grounds, but represent rather the quantities landed at the markets. 

 The proportion of Anglers taken to market, at least up to the date of compilation 

 of the tables, varies for the different areas, and is largely influenced by local con- 

 ditions. 



There can be little doubt from the general distribution that the headquarters 

 of the species is in the Atlantic, and that it extends its range into the Mediterranean 

 and North Sea. 



There is considerable conflict of opinion as to whether the Angler is to be con- 

 sidered a very shallow water form, or whether it is an inhabitant of the deeper 

 water. 



Holt and Calderwood (1891) caught a specimen at 115 fathoms, and Bryne 

 (1889) records one from a depth of 200 fathoms off the Irish coast. The Talisman 

 obtained examples at 400 to 700 metres, about the Azores and Cape Verde. Brown- 

 Goode, from the American side of the Atlantic, gives depths of 84, 142, and 365 

 fathoms in which the species was caught. 



The pre^aous table shows clearly that the North Sea area is of greatest importance 

 in so far as the quantities brought to market are concerned, and the following 

 table shows the relative contributions from the different zones of depth. 



Percentage of Anglers taken at different depths in the North Sea (after Murray 

 and Hjort) :— 



Metres . 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100 100-200 Over 200 

 0-5 17-3 20-7 28-6 15-2 17-5 0-3 



In the North Sea over 80 per cent, of the total weight brought to market is 

 caught in depths between 20 and 100 fathoms, and less than one per cent, is caught 

 in depths of less than 10 fathoms. 



