REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [8] 
Only about eighteen species can be considered to be well-known, and 
the majority of these are forms which occur in European waters as well 
as on our own coasts, and have long been under observation. The 
number of species whose habits, variations, and distribution are thor- 
oughly understood is still smaller. The commonest porpoise on our 
eastern coast is the so-called “ herring-hog,” “ puffing pig,” or “ harbor 
porpoise,” known to science as Phocena communis (fig. 12, pl. iv). An- 
other species which is also very common is the “ bottle-nose dolphin,” 
Tursiops tursio (fig. 6, pl. ii). The common dolphin, Delphinus delphis 
(fig. 7, pl. iii), which has been known from time immemorial, the black- 
fish, Globiocephalus melas (fig. 18, pl. vi), and a striped porpoise .also 
appear to be very abundant along the Atlantic seaboard. On the Cali- 
fornian coast there are also a harbor porpoise, a common dolphin; and a 
striped porpoise, which are very abundant. 
None of the large whalebone whales—the right whales, hump-backs, 
fin- backs, and sulphur-bottoms—can be said to-be abundant on the coasts 
of the United States at the present day. 
There are doubtless persons in many of the Atlantic fishing-towns 
who have had opportunities for observing the different Atlantic spe- 
cies under various conditions, and it is much to be regretted that more 
observations have not been recorded. The writings of Scammon have 
extended the general knowledge of the species occurring on the west 
coast far beyond that of those on the east coast. 
There are certain names which have been used to designate so many 
different kinds of whales and porpoises that they ought to be avoided 
as much as possible. I'or example, the name “ grampus” has been ap- 
plied both to porpoises and to whales with whalebone, which are not 
more closely related, than a horse and a cow. The word “ blackfish ” 
has been employed for any porpoise which is black. In reality the 
word ‘“ grampus” ought to be applied only to porpoises like that repre- ~ 
sented in fig. 17, pl. vi, and “blackfish” only to porpoises like that 
represented in fig. 18, pl. vi. 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
OBSERVATIONS ON LIVING SPECIMENS.—There are many general ob- 
servations of value which may be made by voyagers and other observ- 
ers, even when the species under observation cannot be exactly iden- 
tified. Such relate, for example, to— 
1. The number of individuals in a school. 
2. The apparent equality or inequality of age and size of individuals 
of aschool. | 
3.,The movements in swimming, whether rolling, leaping, or other- 
wise. . 
4, The direction of the movement and the succession of different 
schools. 
