1422 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



Photograph by Elwin R. Sanborn 



SEA CATFISH THAT HATCH EGGS IN THEIR MOL'TM^ 



six pounds^ but the specimens so far received 

 at the Aquarium have been of less than half that 

 size. Both species live well in captivity and 

 have been taken at Gravesend Beach, New York 

 Bay, on several occasions, but they do not seem 

 to appear in our waters every year. 



The Aquarium has at present twelve speci- 

 mens of the sea catfish {H. felis), the largest 

 of which is fourteen inches in length. They 

 have lived in the Aquarium for three years. 



These fishes have been found to feed largelj^ 

 on small Crustacea, mollusks, worms, sea anem- 

 ones and algae, together with some small fishes. 



The sea catfishes are but little esteemed as 

 food fishes, but according to Mitchell are really 

 good eating. 



When the spawning season arrives, efforts will 

 be made at the Aquarium to determine whether 

 the eggs of the sea catfish are actually cared for 

 in the same way as in the gaff-topsail catfish. 



FISH POISONING (ICHTHYO- 

 TOXISMUS). 



Is not this simple ptomaine poisoning? 



By L. L. jNIowbray. 



Much has been said and written about the 

 poisonous fishes of tropical and sub-tropical 

 seas. It is a known fact that, among people 

 eating the same species at the same time, even 



caught in the same locality, some have been 

 poisoned while others have not. Among fishes 

 eaten by man, the species considered most like- 

 ly to be dangerous as food during the season 

 from May to October, are the barracuda, two 

 species of kingfish, three species of jack, red 

 rockfish, and tiger rockfish. 



The barracuda {Sphyraena picuda) is a 

 pike-like fish, inhabiting both shallow and deep 

 water, and is often seen hiding behind the Gor- 

 gonias, waiting for its prey. 



The mulleto kingfish {Scomheromorus re- 

 galis) and the common kingfish (S. cavalla) , 

 are swift and active, and are among the best 

 of food fishes. 



The jacks {Caranx hippos, C. ruber, and C. 

 crysos) are swift swimming surface fishes, usu- 

 ally traveling in large schools. Their food 

 consists of the anchovy, pilcher, hog mouth fry, 

 and squid and crabs that live among the Gulf- 

 weed. 



The red rockfish (Mycteroperca venenosa 

 apua) and the tiger rockfish or gag (M. ti- 

 gris), live on rocky coral bottoms and often in 

 very deep water. Their food consists of small 

 bottom fishes and Crustacea. Both species are 

 captured by hand lines and in traps. 



All of these fishes are carnivorous, preying 

 upon various species of fishes and invertebrates. 

 There is no evidence whatever that they feed 

 at any season upon forms which would render 

 their flesh unwholesome. 



