SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 107 



The introduction of the carp into North Carolina waters began in 1879 and 

 was very successful, the fish soon becoming widely distributed and abundant. It 

 is now well-known in all parts of the state, but is most plentiful in the warmer, 

 more sluggish lowland waters. It can not be said to have attained any great 

 value as a market fish, although it is an item in the commercial fisheries of a 

 dozen countries. In 1902, the quantity sold was 46,500 pounds, worth $2,100, 

 the largest catch being credited to Washington, Martin, and Currituck counties. 

 Here, as in many other states, the carp is of most importance for home consump- 

 tion and as a food for other fishes. It is preeminently adapted for small, warm 

 ponds, and it was brought to America primarily for stocking such waters, which 

 often can not support any other fish life. By comparison with numerous native 

 fishes, the carp is an inferior food; and in a state so well supplied with most desir- 

 able food fishes as North Carolina, there is no reason to believe the carp will ever 

 become popular. 



Order APODES. The Eels. 



The eels, or apodal fishes, constitute a large and interesting order with repre- 

 sentatives in tropical and temperate waters of all parts of the world. Some of 

 the species are very small, others are so large as to deserve the popular name of 

 "sea-serpents", The characters which distinguish them are, in addition to the 

 elongate body, atrophied or absent premaxillary bones; absence of spines in the 

 fins; isocercal tail; low and long dorsal and anal fins (if present); absence of ven- 

 tral fins; comparatively small gill-openings; scales lacking or rudimentary; 

 slightly developed scapular arch; increased number of vertebrae; and various 

 other skeletal pecularities. Of the dozen American families, 4 have local rep- 

 resentatives and may be thus distinguished: 



Key to the North Carolina families of eels. 



i. Tongue present; pectoral fins present; gill-openings comparatively large, slit-like. 

 a. Dorsal and anal fins confluent around the tail; pectoral fins well developed. 



h. Scales present, but embedded, linear in shape, and arranged in groups; species enter- 

 ing fresh water Angtjillid^. 



66. Scales entirely absent; species marine LEPTOCBPHALiD.ffl). 



aa. Dorsal and anal fins not confluent around the tail, the projecting tail without any rays; 



pectoral fins minute Ophichthtid^. 



a. Tongue absent; pectoral fins absent; gill-openings small, rounded Mtjr^nidae. 



Family ANGUILLID^. The Common Eels. 



The fishes of this family, which includes a single genus, pass much of their 

 lives in fresh water, going to the sea to spawn. They are distinguished by having 

 a conical head, well-developed opeTcles and branchial apparatus, distinct tongue, 

 teeth in cardiform bands on jaws and vomer, gill-openings vertical, lateral line 

 present, rudimentary scales, dorsal and anal fins that are continuous around the 

 tail, and well developed pectorals. The young pass through a peculiar metamor- 

 phosis before attaining the adult form. 



