ARCTIC SHOEE FISHES. 261 



I. Shoeb Fishes of the Arctic Ocean. 



The Shore fishes clearly prove a continuity of the Arctic 

 circumpolar fauna, as the southern limit of which we may 

 indicate the southern extremity of Greenland and the Aleu- 

 tian Archipelago, or 60° of lat. K 



Towards the North, fishes become less in variety of species 

 and fewer in number of individuals, and only very few genera 

 are restricted to this fauna. 



The highest latitude at which Shore fishes have been 

 observed is 83° N. lat. The late Arctic Expedition collected 

 at and near that latitude specimens of Coitus quadricornis, 

 Icelus hamatus, Cyclopterus spinosus, Idparis fdbricii, Gymnelis 

 viridis, and Gadus fabricii. This number probably would 

 have been larger if the difficulties of collecting fishes in those 

 high latitudes were not almost insuperable for the greater 

 part of the year. 



As far as we know, the fishes north and south of Behring's 

 Straits belong to the same generic or family types as those 

 of the corresponding latitudes of the Eastern Hemisphere, 

 though the majority are specifically distinct. But the infor- 

 mation we possess of the fishes of the northernmost extremity 

 of the Pacific is extremely scanty and vague. Farther south, 

 whence now and then a collection reaches Europe, we 

 meet with some European species, as the Hemng, Hohbut, 

 Hake. 



The Chondropterygians are very scarce, and it is doubtful 

 whether another Chondropterygian, beside the pelagic Lcem- 

 argus or Greenland Shark, crosses the Arctic circle. In the 

 more temperate latitudes of South Greenland, Iceland, and 

 Northern Scandinavia, Acanthias, Centrogcyllium, and a species 

 of Raja, also Chimmra, are met Avith. 



Of Acanthopterygians the families of Gottidce, Cataphracti, 

 Discoboli, and Blenniidce are well represented, and several of the 



