EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. LIX 



making a haul with the uettrawl, the first thing to impress one is the 

 wonderfnl abundance of life present, in both species and individuftls. 

 Nowhere in the previous history of the Commission have such results 

 been obtained, surprising alike to the novice and the experienced. The 

 bottom in this region is usually soft, and is composed of sand and mud, 

 with many foraminifera, both calcareous and arenaceous. Much of the 

 mud is brought up in the trawl, which at times must sink deeply into 

 it. Within the trawl when it comes to the surface, the conspicuous 

 features are the echinoderms, fishes, crustaceans, and annelids. 



Of the many sorts of fishes taken, perhaps the several species of hake 

 were the most abundant. The trawl often contained bushels of these, 

 which, however, were usually of small size. Cod, haddock, and whiting 

 were not so common, but good sized specimens sometimes occurred. 

 Many of the species, particularly of the genera Gareproctus and Liparis, 

 were very soft and gelatinous, and could be preserved only by being 

 dropped at once into strong alcohol. These occurred mostly at the 

 greater depths, where they would naturally not be exposed to conditions 

 requiring a more perfect protection. The most important species taken 

 was the tile-fish. This was first discovered here in 1878 by a passing 

 fisherman. A few were caught in 1880 by the Commission, and during 

 the past season particularly attention was paid to this species, to de- 

 termine whether its quality and abundance are such as to lead it to 

 become an important food-fish. Trawl-lines were therefore set at differ- 

 ent depths and localities, and special efforts were made to determine its 

 limits. It was found to exist everywhere, from Cape Cod to Delaware 

 (which is i^robably not its southern limit), in a depth of about 100 

 fathoms, and is nearly as abundant as all other kinds together. It is 

 of large size, averaging in weight from 12 to 20 pounds, the largest 

 taken weighing about 50 pounds. The color above is violaceous, and 

 below light gray. On the back and sides are scattered bright yellow 

 spots, each about an inch in diameter. What chiefly distinguishes it 

 from other genera is the fact that it has a dorsal fleshy lobe just back of 

 the head. It.has been named Lopholatilus chamwleonticeps Goode and 

 Bean. The flesh is white and firm and free from bones. The quality 

 is very fine, so that it cannot fail of becoming a good market fish. It 

 remains now for the fishermen to develop here a new industry. 



Crustacea occur in large numbers and furnish an abundant supply of 

 food for all kinds of fishes. They are mostly northern forms. Many 

 have previously been known from the Norwegian coast, and others 

 have close affinities to northern species. Several species which Stimp- 

 sou lonjT ago described from single or few small or imperfect specimens 

 were re-discovered in abundance and of large size. Decapods largely 

 l>redominate, particularly shrimps and anomurans. Hundreds and thou- 

 sands of specimens were brought up in nearly every haul. The largest 

 yet taken is a crab, Geryon quinquedens Smith, first described from 

 ejiecimens in the collection of this society, which were taken from the 



