696 ^'EW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Body subfusiform, moderately robust, its depth slightly less 

 than length of head or about one fifth of the total length; depth 

 of caudal peduncle contained three and one half times in greatest 

 depth of body; snout rounded, the distance from eye to tip of 

 snout twice diameter of eye, the latter being contained five and 

 one half times in length of head; length of maxillary contained 

 two and three fifths times in length of head; mandible much 

 shorter; mandibulary barbel well developed; first dorsal ray 

 inserted over middle of length of pectorals, the distance of this 

 ray from tip of snout being about equal to its distance from 

 end of second dorsal base, the length of the latter being equal 

 to the distance from first dorsal ray to first ray of second dorsal; 

 length of third dorsal base equal to that of second anal, these 

 fins being opposite each other; first anal opposite second dorsal, 

 its base slightly longer; length of pectoral equals base of third 

 dorsal; ventral filamentous, longer than pectoral. 1st D. 13-15; 

 2d D. 15-19; 3d D. 16-18; 1st A. 18-20; 2d A. 16-20. 



Color olive brown with reticulations and blotches of darker; 

 sides and back profusely covered with dark punctulations ; under 

 parts lighter; dorsal, caudal and anal fins with dark blotches;, 

 pectorals and ventrals dusky. 



This fish is very generally known in New York waters under 

 the name of frostfish. It ranges from Nova Scotia to Virginia, 

 and is excessively common in shallow bays in cold weather. 

 The name frostfish is derived from the fact that it appears after 

 frosts have set in. The species ascends fresh-water rivers far 

 above the limits of tide, and may be transferred suddenly from 

 salt water to fresh without inconvenience. It spawns in the 

 early part of winter, and is present at this time in such large 

 numbers as to make its capture with dip nets comparatively 

 easy. The frostfish is the commonest member of the cod family 

 in New York waters. Its size is small, but, from the fact that it 

 occurs in such abundalice, it is an important market species. It 

 is subject to great variations in color; Dr Mitchill enumerates 

 among its varieties five forms: the brown, yellow, yellowish 

 white, mixed tomcod and the frostfish. De Kay has published 



