Fakhan — Seventh Report on the Fishes of the Irish A tlantic Slope. 93 



they live. Of the species known ffoni the east side of the North Atlantic only 

 about one-fifth have been recorded from the west side ; but it seems probable 

 that the comparison of specimens from both sides may increase the number. 

 About the same proportion has been recorded from the Pacific or Indian 

 Oceans ; but, until the family has been reviewed by some authority who has 

 access to collections from all parts of the globe, the identity and range of a 

 number of species must remain doubtful. 



Amongst the species dealt with in this paper there is only one addition, 

 viz., Trachyrhi/nclms Murrcuji, to the list of Irish species already published 

 (Holt and Byrne, 1910). One species, however, recorded in that list as 

 Macrurus nieditcrraneiis, appears l)ere under the name of C'oryphaenoides 

 Mnrrayi. 



The form of net used by the S.S. Helga for the capture of the fish referred 

 to in this report was, on almost every occasion, a small beam trawl of the 

 ordinary shallow-water type, with a beam of from 30 to 32 feet long, which 

 was found to fish with no less success and with no greater difficulty in 

 manipulation in 700 fathoms than in ten fathoms. 



The relative abundance at various depths off the west coast of Ireland of 

 the commoner species mentioned in the paper is shown below in graphic form. 

 The diagram is based on the average numbers in hauls of the trawl made by 

 the Helga at various depths, the data from which it is constructed being given 

 separately in the account of each species. 



This is followed by a table showing the recorded distribution, at various 

 depths, of the species mentioned in the paper, both in the area explored by the 

 Helga and in areas to north and south of it. These areas are taken so as to 

 coincide with the limits given in Canon Norman's definition of the British 

 Marine Area." Although it is clear that the table contains many unfilled 

 gaps, yet it seems to show, in the case of Trachyrhgnchus Murrayi and 

 Coryphfienoides rupestris, that these species inhabit shallower water in the 

 northern than in the southern parts of their range. It is not. evident 

 that this is so in the case of the other species tabulated. 



Another table compares the species of Macrurids taken by the various 

 vessels which have explored the deep water of the N.E. Atlantic. When the 

 name used by the describer of the collection is definitely stated, or generally 

 believed, to be a synonym of a more commonly used name, the latter has been 

 given, followed by the former in brackets. When two species from different 

 collections are closely allied and may prove to be identical, they are given 

 under separate names, but in the same line. This table shows that we are 

 stiU. far from having a satisfactory knowledge of the fish fauna of the area in 

 question, seven species having each been taken by one expedition only. 



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