FAMILY 1. LAAIPREY EELS; PETBOiMYZONIDAE. 



In the strict sense ot the word the lampreys are not really flsh at 

 all, but they are so fish-like in character it is customary to include 

 them in a list of this group of vertebrates. They may be recognized 

 by their elongate eel-like form, the absence of both the pectoral and 

 ventral fins and the peculiar character of the mouth. No jaws are 

 present, but in their place we have a sucking apparatus analogous to 

 that of a leech. 



Two species of lampreys occur in Puget Sound. The Sea Lam- 

 prey, Entosphenus tridentatus (Gairdner), (Fig. 1) is a large species, 

 several feet in length, which may be recognized by the form of the 

 dorsal fin, the latter being divided into two separate parts. It has 

 migratory habits similar to those of the salmon, leaving the sea and 

 ascending the rivers to spawn. The Brook Lamprey, Lampetra cibaria 

 (Girard), is a smaller species about five inches long. It differs from 

 the Sea Lamprey in the form of the dorsal fins which are connected 

 together so as to form a continuous structure. The Sea Lamprey is 

 edible but is not commonly employed as food. 



FAMILY 2. THE COW-SHARKS; HEXANCHIDAE. 



Two species ot this family are found in our waters. The Common 

 Cow-Shark, Hexanchus griseus (Gmelin), (Fig. 3) is the most fre- 

 quently seen of our larger sharks. It can easily be recognized by the 

 presence of a single dorsal fin and the existence of six gill-clefts or 

 openings into the gill chamber. It attains a great size, specimens over 

 28 feet in length being on record. 



The Spotted Cow-Shark, Notorhynchus maculatus (Ayres), (Fig. 2) 

 is a smaller and less common variety. Like the Cow-Shark it has a 

 single dorsal fin, but the gill-clefts are seven in number. It is more 

 slender in form than its relative, and as its name indicates it is 

 covered with large black spots on a gray ground-color. 



FAMILY 3. BLUE SHARKS; GALEIDAE. 



Here belongs the beautiful Blue Shark, Prionace glauca (Lin- 

 naeus), (Fig. 4). This species attains dimensions of 25 feet but speci- 

 mens of this size are rare in our waters. Two dorsal fins are present, 

 but these do not have spines connected with them. The snout is long 

 and sharp and the pectoral fin is elongate and wing-shaped. As sug- 

 gested by the name, the color of this fish is bright blue-gray above 

 and pale beneath. 



FAMir.Y 4. CAT-SHARKS; SOYLLIORHINIDAE. 



Only one member of this family is known to inhabit the Sound 

 and it is very rare. The only specimens seen by the writer were taken 

 in Hoods Canal. The Brown Cat-Shark, Catiilus iritnneus (Gilbert) 

 may be recognized immediately by the peculiar form of the tail, which 



