M2 NATUEAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



abundant in February, 1872. It has not been previously recorded as found south of Cape Cod. 

 Among the most common of the larger species in summer were Mnemiopsis Leidyi, which occurred 

 in abundance at nearly all hours of the day and evening, and was very phosphorescent at night; 

 Oyanea arctica, which occurred chiefly in the daytime, and was here seldom more than a foot in 

 diameter ; Aurelia flavidula, which was not unfrequently seen in the daytime ; Dactylometra 

 gtemgwecwa, which was quite common both by night and day in August and September; and 

 Zygodactyla groenlandica, which was common in July, both in the day and evening, but was seldom 

 seen later in the season. In the winter season the Mnemiopsis Leidyi is often abundant in Long 

 Island Sound, and I have also observed it in New York Harbor in February, in largo numbers. 

 At Wood's Holl, Mr. V. N. Edwards found the PleurobracMa rhododactyla, both young and nearly 

 full-grown, very abundant in February and March. At Watch Hill, April 13, 1 found both adult 

 specimens and young ones not more than one-eighth of an inch in diameter. It probably occurs 

 through the entire year, for we frequently met with it in midsummer in Vineyard Sound. Mr. S. 

 I. Smith also found it very abundant at Fire Island, on the south side of Long Island, in 

 September. The Idyia roseola, so abundant on the coast of New England north of Cape Cod, was 

 only occasionally met with, and in small numbers, while the Bolina alata, which is one of the most 

 abundant species on the northern coast of New England, was not seen at all. The Aurelia 

 flavidula is less common than north of Cape Cod, but was found in abundance in Buzzard's Bay, 

 in May, by Y. N. Edwards." 



Many accounts have been given of the damage done to the nets of the fishermen by Jelly- 

 fishes, when they have congregated together in large numbers. Mr. Fred. Mather, writing from 

 Saybrook, Connecticut, in 1881, says that "the Jelly-fish, called Sun -fish here, are a source of 

 great annoyance this year. They clog up the meshes of the nets, and the tide sweeps away either 

 the net alone, or with its stakes." 



The following extract from a letter by Mr. E. H. Stannard, of Westbrook, Connecticut, dated 

 June 1, 1881, refers to the destruction occasioned in former years. " The Jelly-fish have been 

 very destructive to pound fishing several times within the past thirty-five years, and there have 

 been more or less of them every year in the Sound. In 1861, the best part of the season was 

 destroyed, and, in 1868, one-half of tlje shad-fishing season was destroyed by the Jelly-fish taking 

 away the nets and stakes. In 1878, Jelly-fishes were very plentiful ; they stopped the shad fishing 

 with pounds almost entirely, and to such an extent that the company did not pay expenses. This 

 year, 1881, they have destroyed about one-third of the catch or season. If no Jelly fish had 

 appeared I believe the catch would have been one-third larger than it is." 



