CXXX REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FlfJH AND FISHERIES. 



INVESTIGATIONS IN COAST WATERS. 

 REDISCOVERY OF THE TILE-FISH. 



The discovery of the tile-fish {Lopholatilus clianueleontice'ps) in 1879, 

 its apparent extinction in 1882, and the subsequent searches for it have 

 beej) repeatedly referred to in the reports of the Commission and in 

 other publications. The rediscovery of the fish in great abundance on 

 its former grounds in the summer of 1898 constituted one of the most 

 noteworthy investigations of the Commission and one of the leading 

 features of the fishing industry during the year. 



Search for the tile-fish from 1883 to 1891 gave only negative results, 

 although in 1892 and 1893 a few scattering specimens were taken by 

 the Grampus as an outcome of about five months' work. Subsequent 

 years yielded no new information till 1897, when a Gloucester schooner 

 accidentally set trawls on the former grounds and caught 30 specimens, 

 as noted in the report of this division for 1897. 



In 1898, in connection with the biological investigations of the Com- 

 mission at the Woods Hole laboratory, the Grampus made three trips 

 to the edge of the continental plateau in the vicinity of the 100-fathom 

 line, south of southern New England and Long Island, for the purpose 

 of determining the abundance of the tile-fish and the region over which 

 its range extends. On each occasion the fish was found, and on two 

 trips comparatively large numbers were taken. The first cruise, which 

 began August 12, extended to a point about 70 miles off No Man's Land. 

 When the trawls were set, 8 fine tile-fish were caught. As the vessel 

 was insufficiently equipped with lines and bait, she returned to Woods 

 nole to refit, and sailed again for the tile-fish grounds on August 30. 

 Sixty miles oft' Block Island the trawls were set three times on August 

 31, and 7, 47, and 19 tile-fish, respectively, were taken. On the 1st of 

 September 78, weighing over 1,000 pounds, were caught and taken to 

 Montauk Point, where they were distributed among the soldiers at 

 Camp Wikoff. On the third trip, which terminated on October 2, the 

 number taken was 203, weighing more than 3,000 pounds. The fishing 

 was carried on between the sixty-ninth and seventieth meridians of west 

 longitude — a section which the fish had not before been ascertained to 

 inhabit. On each of these trips large fish were obtained in considerable 

 numbers, and also a great many very small and immature specimens, 

 weighing only 1 or 2 pounds, indicating that the species is actively 

 breeding. The average weight was about 12 pounds. 



While some additional investigations will be necessary in order to 

 definitely determine the area of sea bottom over which the tile-fish 

 ranges, it is now known that it has reestablished itself on a ground at 

 least 175 miles long and 10 to 15 miles wide, at a depth varying from 

 60 to 120 fathoms. The proximity of this region to the great fishing 

 centers and markets of the North Atlantic coast, and the abundance 

 and excellent food qualities of the fish warrant a belief that a profitable 

 fishery may be inaugurated. The trawl lines used by the Gramjms were 

 comparatively short, with few hooks, and were fished by only one dory; 



