[9] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 1 ( J3 



Littorina littorea (Linne), Menke. 



Penny winkle. 



This species is not an indigenous one, having been introduced from 

 Europe, probably with ballast, during the last fifteen or twenty years. 

 It first appeared on the coast of Maine in 1868, and since then has 

 spread gradually to more southern waters. In 1872 it was seen in the 

 vicinity of Provincetown, Mass. In 1875 it was seen at Wood's Holl, 

 but was abundant at Provincetown ; and in 1880 had become abundant 

 at Wood's Holl. It is now found as far west as Stouington, Conn. 

 Though not used as food it is available for that purpose. 



Ilyanassa obsoleta, Stiinpsou. 



This small univalve has no distinctive commou name, and goes by 

 the general term of "sea-snail." It is found on the entire eastern and 

 southern coasts of the United States, though not abundant south of 

 Cape Cod, and is local in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It is found 

 fossil in the Post-Pliocene of Massachusetts, Nantucket Island, Vir- 

 ginia, and South Carolina. The Ilyanassa obsoleta is, probably, the 

 most abundant Gasteropod of the American coast. While it i.s naturally 

 an inhabitant of muddy bottoms and fiats, yet it lives and flourishes on 

 sandy sbores, among eel-grass, and on the piles and timbers of wharves 

 equally well. It is found alike, far up estuaries and on the open coast 

 and its crooked trail and burrows can be observed on every beach and 

 shore. As the tide leaves the mud fiats the animals are seen in im- 

 mense numbers, especially in and about the pools. They perform the 

 useful duty of scavengers, and are also sought and used for bait; but 

 are not considered edible. 



HALIOTIM. 



Genus Haliotis. — Ear-Shells, Sea-Ears, or Abalones. 



There are four species of Haliotis that are of commercial importance: 

 The "White Sea- Ear," or Haliotis cracherodii ; the "Splendid Sea- Ear," 

 or Haliotis splendens ; the "Bough Sea-Ear," or Haliotis corrugata: and 

 the "Red Sea-Ear," or Haliotis rufescens. One other species, Haliotis 

 IcamchatJcana, is found on the coast of Alaska, but is rare. These Gas- 

 teropods are distributed along the whole North Pacific coast from San 

 Francisco to the southward, including the peninsula of Lower California, 

 though they decrease in abundance in the region of Cape Saint Lucas. 

 They are also found in the Gulf of California, and along the Mexican 

 coast. The " White Sea-Ear " (Haliotis cracherodii) is the most abundant, 

 and is the one generally known in commerce. The "Splendid" and 

 "Rough" species (Haliotis splendens and Haliotis corrugata) are most 

 abundant in the neighborhood of San Diego. The shell of Haliotis 

 2 'A i— Bull. 27 13 



