[33] HISTORY OF THE TILE-FISH. 269 



McClaiu, of the schooner Herald of the Morning, in lat. 37o 29' N.^ 

 long. 740 00' W. 



About the same time dead fish were seen floating at the surface by 

 the crew of schooner William S. Oakes, 40 miles in a northeasterly di- 

 rection from where the specimen was obtained by the Herald of the 

 Morning, and several individuals, as has been mentioned, were picked 

 up in lat. 38° 05' N., long. 73° 40' W. 



About the 1st of May dead fish of the species Peristediuni were seen 

 off Cape May, about from 15 to 30 miles southeast from Five Fathom 

 Bank Light-Ship, by the crew of the fishing schooner C. 0. Warren.* 



Throwing aside for the present the consideration of the reports of 

 those vessels which saw the dead fish in April, or later, we will proceed 

 to consider the area which was covered in March, estimating this from 

 such data as has been discussed. 



The approximate length of 150 miles we get from the flistance sailed 

 by the Navarino, but if we consider the report of the Bella, this must 

 be increased at least 20 miles, making a total length of 170 miles. The 

 average width can be no less than 25 miles, and multii)lying these to- 

 gether we find that the enormous expanse of 4,250 geographical square 

 miles, or 5,620 square statute miles, was covered with a mass of dead 

 and dying fish. If to this is added the area farther south, which waa 

 probably covered more or less thickly by floating Lopholatilus, a short 

 time Inter (if not at the same time), as indicated by the specimens and 

 reports brought in by the fishing schooners, we find that our estimate 

 must be increased nearly a half more and would reach the sum of about 

 7,500 square statute miles. 



In making these estimates I have thought best to keep them down to 

 the minimum, so as to be within rather than outside of the probabilities,, 

 and have therefore not considered the reports of the ships British Amer- 

 ica and Bella in connection with the width of the estimated area. Neither 

 do I think it desirable to take into account the possible area covered 

 near the place where the fish were seen by the Herald of the Morning 

 and the William S. Oakes. A bare allusion to the matter seems sufiB- 

 cient. In estimating the width of the sea area over which the Tile-fish 

 were seen floating, I have thought best to make it about two-thirds as 

 much as the several reports would indicate, thus allowing for any pos- 

 sible exaggeration — though all could not err in this particular — and the 

 drift or spreading out of the fish after coming to the surface. 



12. — PROBABLE NUMBERS OF DEAD FISH. 



The question which is most naturally suggested to the mind when 

 considering the immense area over which the Tile-fish were found is, 



* The statements I have been able to obtain as to the exact locality in which these 

 fish were seen by the crew of the C. C. Warren are not sufficiently definite to warrant 

 me in giving the liositiou in any other than a general way. 



