THH IIOK'NKD DOGFISH. 573 



and are occasionally taken in nets. They are of no sj>ecial value, and cause much annoyance to 



tin- fishermen. An individual taken at Wood's Hull, Massachusetts. in .Inly, 18;r>, iiiea^im-.l nine 

 feet seven inches. and weighed three hundred and eighty pounds, the liver weighing thirty-eight 

 pounds. It had in its stomach a l>luetish of five pounds' weight These two species feed upon 

 mollusks as well as upon fish. Individuals examined by the Fish Commission were found to 

 contain bluefish, flounders. crabs, lobsters, and quantities of a small species of a bivalve shell, 



THE BLACK-PINNED SHARK ISOGOMPHODON MAOULIPINNIS. 



This sjieeies resembles in shape the Hlue Shark, from which it may be distinguished by its 

 lighter color and the presence of a prominent black spot upon the tip of each flu. The species is 

 found in the tropical parts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and on the Pacific coast of Central 

 America. It was first discovered on our coast in 1875, when several specimens were taken at 

 Wood's Hull, Massachusetts. 



THE TIGER SHARK GALEOCERDO TIGRINUS. 



This is a 8|>ecies which is found throughout the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and on the coast 

 of Japan. It was first noticed in our waters by Captain Atwood, who obtained specimens at 

 Provineetown, and has since been observed occasionally. It is one of the most active and grace- 

 ful of Sharks, as well as one of the most ferocious. Its teeth are like razors. In the stomach of 

 a specimen taken by Captain Atwood at Provineetown, nearly a whole full grown sword-fish was 

 found ; ten or twelve wounds in the skin of the Shark gave evidence of the contest that must 

 have occurred. It feeds upon mollusks as well as upon other flshes. A specimen caught at 

 Wood's IIoll in 1871 contained large univalve shells, Buccinum undatum, and the sea-snail, Lvnatia 

 hero. 



THE SMOOTH OR BLUE DOGFISH MUSTELUS CAMS. 



The Smooth Dogfish of our waters, Mustelv* canis, is without doubt specifically identical with 

 one of the common European species, M. vulgaris. The American name has, however, the right 

 of priority. Hitherto, only a single species has been recognized upon Atlantic coasts. It is quite 

 abundant on the coast of Southern New England. It feeds upon crabs, lobsters, and other bottom- 

 loving invertebrates, its smooth pavement-like teeth being adapted for crushing the thick shells 

 of these animals rather than for seizing and holding active fishes. 



In Bermuda this fish is known as the ''Nurse Shark." and is highly esteemed by the negroes 

 as food, and is also an important bait in the local fisheries. At Folkstone, England, they are 

 dried, and go by the name of " Folkstone beef." 



THE HORNED OR SPINY DOGFISH SQUALUS ACANTHIAS. 



This species is found in the North Atlantic, occurring on the coast of Europe from the North 

 Cape to the Mediterranean, and in our own waters south to New York. On the west coast it 

 ranges south to Santa Harbara. Little attention has been paid to its habits. I cannot do better 

 than quote fully the observations of Captain Atwood, who writes: 



"Thia Shark is the mo.<l common one upon our coast. I have seen it at Gay Head, Martha's 

 Vineyard, but know nothing further about its southerly limits. Both above and below Caj>e Cod 

 it is abundant, and is found all along the coast of Massachusetts, Maine. Nova Scotia, and the 

 Gulf of Saiut Lawrence. I myself have never seen I hem fart IK- r north than the Magdalen 

 Islands and the east coast of ( 'ape lln-toii Island, but reliable accounts say that it is found on the 

 southern coast of Newfoundland. As the Dogfish appear at I'mvincetown a little while after the 

 43 F 



