[47] HISTORY OF THE TILE-FISH. 283 



But in the case of the Lopholaiilus, there seems to be no reason what- 

 ever to suppose that any of these reasons could be assigned as a probable 

 cause of death. The specimens obtained were said to be sound, whole- 

 some, and handsome. When cooked, they were nutritious and remark- 

 ably palatable. They were not killed by other fish, for they were not 

 mutilated. Neither could they have been destroyed by disease or by 

 the ravages of parasites, for their appearance indicated the most robust 

 health and freedom from injurious insects. Whatever the cause, it is 

 evident that the fish were overtaken by some power which suddenly 

 suspended their vital action, and transformed them almost instantly 

 from active, vigorous animals into a mass of inert or dying forms float- 

 ing helplessly at the surface of the sea. 



E.— APPENDIX. 



15. — REPORT UPON A CRUISE MADE TO THE TILE-FISH GROUND IN 

 THE SMACK JOSIE REEVES, SEPTEMBER, 1882. 



The area of sea bottom lying inside of the Gulf Stream, near the 

 parallel of 40^ north latitude, and between the meridians of 70^ and 71° 

 20' west longitude, in depths varying from about 90 to 125 fathoms, is 

 where the Tile-fish {Lopholatilus chamcelonticeps) has been found abun- 

 dant during the past three summers, and this locality is known as the 

 " Tile-fish ground," and here, as well as much farther south and west, 

 dead fish of this species were seen floating in vast numbers at the sur- 

 face of the ocean last March and April. The object of this trip was to 

 ascertain by practical methods, and as complete a research as circum- 

 stances would allow, to what extent the Tile-fish had been depleted by 

 the mortality of last spring, or if they had been practically annihilated 

 in the region where they have heretofore been known to occur. The in- 

 vestigation of this subject was therefore a matter of unusual interest, 

 whether we look at it from a scientific stand-point or whether we take 

 into consideration how much benefit might result to those engaged in 

 the fisheries, should the Tile- fish be found in anything like its former 

 abundance, and its commercial value be established. This species has 

 been pronounced a most excellent food-fish by competent judges, and 

 there is reason to expect that its market value might have been fully 

 equal to that of many of our choice fishes had sufficient numbers been 

 taken to place it before the public as an article of food. 



In obedience to the tenor of your orders that I should proceed to the 

 Tile-fishing ground and ascertain the presence or absence of the LopJio- 

 latilus cham(elonticeps, I have the honor to submit the following report : 



I left Gloucester September 15, 1882, to join the schooner Josie Reeves, 

 which was then at Greenport, Long Island, waiting my arrival. I had 

 previously forwarded the fishing apparatus, trawl lines, &c., that I had 



