398 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Prickles small, uniform, entirely covering upper surface, including fins and tail, 
excepting only the base of ventrals, which are nearly smooth. Nospines or enlarged 
prickles above orbits. An elongate patch of slightly enlarged prickles in front of 
each eye, the two converging forward, separated from orbit posteriorly by two- 
thirds diameter of eye. Prickles somewhat enlarged toward tip of snout, not 
spine-like. The median row of spines on back begins immediately behind occiput, 
continues without interruption to dorsal, and contains 39 spines in addition to the 
2 between dorsal fins. A narrow band of slightly enlarged prickles on each side of 
tail. Dorsal fins uniformly prickly. Bucklers on pectorals in 26 rows, 6 or 7 in’ 
broadest row. Two or three enlarged spines on shoulder. 
Entire under surface of snout and a band extending along most of anterior edge 
of disk prickly. Under surface of pectorals otherwise smooth. Belly smooth. An 
area immediately in front of vent minutely prickly, as is also the thoracic region. 
Lower side of tail prickly except at base. Ventrals smooth below. 
Width of disk slightly less than distance from tip of tail to shoulder, 14 times its 
own length. Length of tail equaling distance from its root to middle of snout. , 
Teeth $5. Dorsals high, about equal in size, their oblique height equaling length of’ 
base, which is one-third greater than interspace. Claspers long, smooth. 
Dusky olive, with ill-detined light areas; no ocellated spots. Below white; an. 
elongate brown blotch on each side of snout, and a smaller median streak. Lower 
side of tail brownish dusky. Angle and posterior margin of disk below broadly | 
edged with brown. A large brownish blotch about anus, and some smaller scattered | 
marks. | 
| 
7. Raja trachura Gilbert. 
A second specimen of this interesting deep-sea ray was dredged at station 3338, 
south of the Shumagin Islands, Alaska, at a depth of 625 fathoms. ‘The specimen isa 
female, 222 mm. long, and answers well to the description of the type. 
Family CHIMAjRIDZ. 
8. Hydrolagus colliei (Bennett). Ratfish; Hlephant-fish. 
Station 3350, near Point Reyes, Cal.; depth, 75 fathoms. 
Family CLUPHIDA. The Herrings. 
9. Clupea pallasi Cuvier & Valenciennes. California Herring. 
Clupea mirabilis Girard. 
This herring was seen in Departure Bay, Vancouver Island, May 10 to 13; in 
Unalaska Harbor June 16 and July 31, and in Herendeen Bay, Alaska Peninsula, 
July 5. In Departure Bay they were swimming in schools about the wharves and 
ships. It was noticed that when not disturbed all would swim slowly in the same 
direction with the gill-covers widely open and rigidly set, their oblique silvery 
surfaces giving bright reflections and rendering the fish very conspicuous when seen 
from above. If suddenly alarmed, the gill-covers of all were simultaneously closed 
down, and remained so during whatever rapid maneuvers followed. In this condi- 
tion it was very difficult to follow their movements. Young salmon were feeding 
upon them at the time of our visit. In Unalaska Harbor they were present in great 
numbers the middle of June, but were not seen May 24, at the time of our first visit. 
They were very large and in excellent condition, and seemed superior to the same 
species when taken on the California coast. 
