34 UNUTILIZED FISHES. 



POSSIBLE DESTRUCTIVENESS. 



It will be observed that enormous numbers of small crustaceans, 

 principally sand fleas (Amphipoda) and the prawn {Pala^moneies), 

 go to make up the cunner's food supply. ]\Iany molluscs are eaten 

 also, the gasteropods {Bidla and Odostomia) and the pelecypods 

 {Mytilvs, Pectcn, Xueiila, and SoJeno))iij(() being identified. The 

 column headed " Fish, species undetermined "' most likely represents 

 flesh picked from dead bodies of fishes, since it was invariably in 

 pieces, Avith nothing to indicate that a whole fish had been swal- 

 lowed. Furthermore, cunners in the Fel Pond and about the Rev- 

 enue AVharf at Woods Hole Avere often seen feeding upon dead fish 

 and refuse matter lying on the bottom. This is in support of Dr. 

 Goode's statement that " they are among the most important scav- 

 engers of our harbors." Thus the cunner is a useful fish. The 

 column headed " Teleost eggs," hoAvever, suggests that the cunner 

 may also do evil. If the alimentary canals of 4 per cent of the cun- 

 ners contain the eggs of fishes during the months of July and August, 

 Avhen A'ery fcAv fish are sj)aAvning, the question arises, hoAV many 

 would be fomul containing fish spaAvn in May and June, Avhen many 

 valuable food fishes are spaAvning? And since the cunner also feeds 

 largely upon sand fleas. praAvns, and other small crustaceans, is there 

 not ground for suspicion that many young lobsters fall A'ictims to it? 

 Only a careful study of the cunner's food supply in A^arious locali- 

 ties during May and June aaIII giA^e an adequate answer to these 

 queries. Certainly, during the months of July and August the cun- 

 ner, as here shown, is not a destructive fish, but rather a useful har- 

 bor sea Avenger. 



THE TOADFISH. 



GENERAL APPEARANCE, ABUNDANCE, AND HABITS. 



The toadfish {Opsanus tan) A^aries from scA^eral to IG inches in 

 length. It has a robust body with a slimy, scaleless surface and a 

 large broad head, bearing a wide, capacious mouth. The general 

 color is a dusky oliA^e, the sides being marked Avith indistinct blackish 

 bars, and the whole body being sometimes spotted Avith yelloAv or 

 whitish. In appearance it somewhat resembles a toad, and this fact 

 giA^es it its name. It is quite common from Cape Cod to Cuba. On 

 the lower Potomac RiA^er, Marjdand, Smith (1892) reports it 

 " exceedingly numerous, especially on the oyster beds in shallow 

 Avater." Shoal water, which is well grown up Avith eel grass (Zos- 

 tera tnarina) and where there are plenty of large stones and empty 

 tomato cans, is the ideal place for the toadfish, furnishing it pro- 

 tection and abundance of food. The eggs are laid in some empty 

 tin cRn or under a rock and guarded by the parent until the young 



