THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 65 



In most cases the fish is destroyed by being taken in at a gulp, by one 

 of its fellows larger than itself, although there are certain forms, such 

 as the Chiasmodes, the Saecopharyiix, &c, which, in the possession of 

 very wide jaws and a capacious stomach sac, can take in entire and 

 digest fishes of twice their own size. Specimens illustrating this are 

 to be found in the National Museum. In many cases, as with the 

 sharks, bluefish, &c, the victim is lacerated, either torn or bitten in 

 two. Fish like the sand-lance (Ammodytes), when swallowed alive, often 

 burrow through the stomach and produce death. It is not uncommon 

 for codfish to be taken with the sand-lance in the abdominal cavity, en- 

 cysted and mummified, several specimens of these having been ob- 

 tained by Captain Atwood, of Provincetown. The lampreys and myx- 

 ines, already mentioned as destroying the very large fish, frequently do 

 this still more extensively on the smaller ones. The so-called pug, 

 nosed eel of the Gloucester fishermen (Simenchelys parasiticus) is not 

 unfrequently found nestling along the backbone of the halibut and cod 

 where they seem to have the power of 'abiding for some time without 

 actually causing death. The eel is another of the fishes that destroy 

 life in an unusual way. It is especially noteworthy in connection with 

 gilling for shad, in view of its habit of fastening upon a ripe female, 

 when meshed, and penetrating the abdominal cavity and devouring the- 

 eggs in its progress. It is a very common experience for the gillers to 

 find perfectly sound, plump shad, taken in the net, with one and some- 

 times two or three eels in the abdomen, their destruction having been 

 effected within a period of a few minutes. 



It may safely be said that of oceanic fish more or less predaceous, 

 there are many forms that live on vegetable substances while young, 

 but for the most part changing to a carnivorous habit when old. How 

 many species confine themselves exclusively to fish it is impossible to 

 say, as a careful examination of the stomachs of most forms shows at 

 least the occasional presence of crabs, worms, radiates, &c. 



I havealready referred to the subject of the rapacity offish, under 

 the heads of migrations and movements, and variations in abundance, 

 &c. I would here simply call to mind the ravages of the bluefish in its 

 attacks upou the mackerel, menhaden, and other species. Great as are 

 these ravages, however, they are probably nothing in comparison with 

 those of different species of the sharks. These, by their enormous size 

 and immense abundance, must, of all oceanic forms, be the most destruc- 

 tive offish life and constitute the largest factor in the element of mu- 

 tual injury. Neither is it the largest of the sharks that are the most 

 dangerous. The smaller forms, which come in large schools, migrating 

 with the season, are most effectual in their agency. Every fisherman 

 on the New England coast is familiar with the so-called dogfish (Acan- 

 thias americanus), a species which rarely exceeds 3 feet in length, 

 but which frequently comes in on the fishing-grounds in countless num- 

 S. Mis. 90 5 



