THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 43 



Alosa sapidissima Storer. Shad. 



Several specimens taken in the seines, at Great Egg Harbor, April 



1871, contained finely-divided fragments of numerous Crustacea, among 

 which were shrimp, 3Iysis americana. 



Several from the mouth of the Connecticut River, May, 1872, contained 

 fragments of small Crustacea, (Mysis, &c). 

 Pomolobus mediocris Gill. Hickory Shad. 



Several specimens taken in the seines at Great Egg Harbor, April, 



1872, contained large quantities of fragmentary Crustacea ; one con- 

 tained recognizable fragments of shrimp, Crangon vulgaris. 

 Brevoortia tyr annus (Latrobe) Goode. Menhaden. 



A large number of specimens freshly caught in seines at Great Egg 

 Harbor, April, 1871, were examined, and all were found to have their 

 stomachs filled with large quantities of dark mud. They undoubtedly 

 swallow this mud for the sake of the microscopic animal and vegetable 

 organisms that it contains. Their complicated and capacious digestive 

 apparatus seems well adapted for this crude and bulky food. 

 Raia diaphana Mitch. Common Skate; ''Summer Skate." 



A specimen taken at Wood's Holl, May 14, contained rock-crabs, 

 Cancer irroratus; a young skate; a long slender fish (Ammodytesf). 

 Another, caught in July, contained Cancer irroratus. 

 Raia Iwvis (?) Mitch. Peaked-nose Skate. 



Specimens caught iu Vineyard Sound, May 14, contained numerous 

 shrimps, Crangon vulgaris; several Conilera concharum; several Annelids, 

 among them Nephthys ingens; Meclcelia ingens; two specimens of Phasco- 

 losoma Gouldii; razor-shells, Ensatella Americana (the " foot" only, of 

 many specimens); a small fish, Ctenolabrus burgall. Specimens taken at 

 Menemsha, in July, contained large numbers of crabs, Cancer irroratus; 

 and of lobsters, Homarus americanus. 

 Trygon centrura Gill. Stiug-ray. 



Specimens caught at Wood's Holl, in July and August, contained 

 large numbers of crabs, Cancer irroratus; squids, Loligo Pealii; clams, 

 Mya arenaria; Lunatia hcros. 

 Myliobatis Freminvillei Les. Long-tailed Sting-ray. 



Specimens taken in Vineyard Sound, in July, contained an abundance 

 of lobsters, Homarus americanus; crabs, Cancer irroratus; also clams, 

 Mya arenaria; and Lunatia heros. 

 Pteroplatea maclura Mull. & Henle. Butterfly Ray. 



One specimen examined contained menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus 

 Goode). Wood's Holl, 1871. E. Palmer. 

 Eulamia obscura Gill.' Dusky Shark. 



Several specimens caught at Wood's Holl, in July and August, con- 

 tained lobsters, Homarus americanus; rock-crabs, Cancer irroratus. 



One specimen contained a flat-fish, in the stomach of which were star- 

 fish and clam-shells. The common ray is often the food of this species 



