3 chim;eroid fishes and their development. 



either in aquaria or in cases floating or sunken, and then, from time to time, select 

 the developmental stages.* This mode of procedure, however, was not without prac- 

 tical difificulties, as the present writer found to his cost. In the first place, he was 

 for several years unable to locate a region in which Chimaera could be taken con- 

 slantlv and plentifully. To this end several points along the European coast were 

 considered in vain. In the bay of Naples Chimaera is uncommon, contrary to what 

 one is led to infer from the notes given by Costa (1854); for it was found (i8gi)that 

 but few specimens could there be obtained, even through the excellent collecting 

 facilities offered by the Stazione. Messina is said to be a favorable locality, but 

 upon inquiry it was ascertained through Cav. LoBianco that even there Chimaera 

 was erratic in its appearance, and that months might elapse before many specimens 

 could be collected. At Nice, also, inquiry showed that similar conditions prevailed. 

 The coast of Portugal gave the best promise of abundant material, but the writer 

 found, during a visit in 1891, that collecting facilities were unattainable. There 

 were still to be considered the collecting possibilities of the coast of Norway, 

 where, indeed, Collett (1875) had already obtained an egg of Chimaera, when it was 

 learned that a species of Chimaera, C. colliei, was taken in considerable numbers 

 on the Pacific coast of the United States. It was next ascertained from Dr. Tarle- 

 ton H. Bean that this form could be taken in the waters of Puget Sound, and that 

 it was especiallv abundant in the neighborhood of Port Townsend. Here, more- 

 over, it occurred in relatively shallow water, and Dr. Bean had seen specimens of 

 these "rat-fish," as they are locally known, swimming about near the wharves. 

 Puget Sound was accordingly visited, Columbia University sending out a part3'f 

 with a view to collect, among other desiderata, embryonic material of Chimaera ; 

 and during a summer (1896) efTorts were made to secure both the eggs and the 

 living fish. The latter were abundant. About a score of females were examined, 

 but in no case were eggs obtained. F"rom the condition of the ovaries it was 

 inferred that the spawning season had passed. 



Efforts were next made to secure eggs by dredging, but this means also proved 

 in the end fruitless. It resulted, nevertheless, in collecting egg-capsules, and in sev- 

 eral localities. At one point in Discovery Bay as many as sixty capsules were dredged 

 (6 fathoms) during a single morning, but these, as in other instances, were found 

 to be empty. The majorit\' of the capsules were broken and frayed, and bore 

 evidence of having been in the water many months. Everv effort, however, failed 

 to secure capsules containing eggs. Possibly they might have been secured if 

 dredging in deeper water could have been carried on, for in no case was material 

 obtained from deeper than 10 fathoms. But it was remarkable that so man}- 

 empty cases should be taken close together, and in shallow water, if they had not 



* since these pages were written Prof. Schauinsland has published an extremely valuable memoir on the devel- 

 opment of Callorhynchus, but he has given no notes regarding the manner in which eggs were secured at Chatham 

 Island, or how these embryos were reared. They appear to have been collected separately, since he describes no 

 stage earlier than gastrula. 



fin this, as in similar cases, the University was indebted to the fund donated by Charles H. Senff, Esq. 



