REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [300] 



In describing the animals belonging in these different divisions and 

 subdivisions it has not been found desirable to mention, in this part of 

 the report, all the species found in each, but only those that appear to 

 be the inost abundant and important, and especially those that are 

 known to serve as the food of fishes. But in the general systematic list, 

 which accompanies this report, all the species of the region, so far as 

 determined, will be enumerated. 



II. TlIE FAUNA OF THE BAYS AND SOUNDS. 



In Buzzard s Bay, Vineyard Sound, Nantucket Sound, and Muskeget 

 Channel, (see map,) the water is shallow, being generally less than 8 

 fathoms deep, and rarely exceeding 14 fathoms, even in the deepest 

 spots. It will be seen by reference to the map, on which soundings have 

 been given and contour lines drawn, representing the zones having 

 depths below 3, 10, 14, and 20 fathoms, respectively, that the greater 

 part of Buzzard s Bay is less than 10 fathoms deep, and that the 3-fathom 

 curve is nearly parallel with the shore lines, and the same is true of the 

 6- fathom line, which has not been drawn. The 10-fathoin curve is very 

 irregular and only extends a short distance within the mouth of the bay ; 

 but an irregular area, in which the water exceeds 10 fathoms in depth, 

 the central part over a limited area being about 15 fathoms, is sit 

 uated to the west of Penikese, Nashawena, and Cuttyhunk Islands ; 

 this is inclosed on all sides by shallower water. The 14-fathorn curve is 

 situated from four to eight miles farther off and does not enter the bay 

 at all, showing only a very slight curvature in that direction j yet it 

 extends far up Narragansett Bay, and to a considerable distance within 

 the mouth of Vineyard Sound, but, like the 10-fathom line, does not 

 enter Muskeget Channel or Nantucket Sound at any point, and shows 

 scarcely any curvature toward those waters, which are very shallow 

 throughout their whole extent, and much obstructed by banks and 

 broad shoals of moving sands. Tbe 20-fathom line at nearly all points is 

 situated far off shore, and does not conform at all to the outline of the 

 coast. There is, however, an area of water exceeding this depth off 

 Newport, in the mouth of Narragansett Bay. 



Vineyard Sound is deeper and much more varied in its depth and in the 

 character of its bottom than Buzzard s Bay or Nantucket Sound, and 

 therefore its fauna is richer in species and the facilities for collecting are 

 much greater. In Vineyard Sound the 3 fathom curve follows the out 

 lines of the shore very closely, and the same is true of the G-fathom curve, 

 which has not been represented on the map. The 10-fathom line when 

 it enters the mouth of the sound incloses the greater part of its width and 

 is approximately parallel with its shores, but after it passes the narrowest 

 part of the sound, between the northern end of Martha s Vineyard and 

 Wood s Hole, it rapidly narrows and is finally interrupted by shallows and 

 sand-bars after passing Holmes s Hole, but there are beyond this sev 

 eral isolated areas of water exceeding this depth and having their long 



