392 . REPORT OF THE 



Family LEPTOCEPHALIDiE. Conger Eels. 



44. Conger Eel [Leptoceplialus conger Linnaeus). 



Sometimes caught in summer in Gravesend Bay. It suffers greatly from attacks 

 of fungus in captivity during warm weather. 



The Conger Eel is occasionally taken by hand-line fishermen off Southampton 

 while fishing for sea bass and scup. The fishermen dislike this eel on account of 

 its pugnacity and strength. 



The Conger Eel arrives at Woods Hole, Mass., in July and remains until fall. 

 Dr. Smith says it has been very common there for several years, but was rather rare 

 formerly. Fishermen as a rule do not distinguish it from the Common Eel. A few 

 are taken in traps and with lines, but many large ones, weighing from 8 pounds 

 upward, are caught in lobster pots. An individual weighing 12 pounds was taken on 

 a line at Falmouth, August 30, 1897. The small eels observed are 15 to 28 inches 

 long. 



Order ISOSPONDYLI. 



Family ELOPID^. Tarpons. 



45. Tarpon {Tarpon atlanticus C. & V.). 



Dr. Smith says the Tarpon is taken every year in traps at South Dartmouth, also 

 occasionally at Quisset and at Menemsha in the latter part of September. All are 

 about one size, 80 to 100 pounds. Fishermen call them " Big Scale Fish." Owing 

 to the toughness of the flesh the people of New Bedford do not like the fish. 



A Tarpon was reported to me as having been found in Swan River at 

 Patchogue, October 1898. The fish was 4 feet long and was said to have entered 

 the river alive. 



Mr. W. I. De Nyse saw an individual about 5 feet long at Gravesend B-each, 

 Long Island, in the summer of 1901. 



46. Big-eyed Herring {Eiops sauries Linneeus). 



The Big-eyed Herring, also called Ten-pounder, occurs in the fall at Cape Cod 

 according to Dr. Smith It is taken in traps at Vineyard Sound and in herring gill- 

 nets at Vineyard Haven. No young examples were observed, the average length 

 . having been 18 to 20 inches. An adult was caught in Gravesend Bay in 1898. It is 

 known to the fishermen there as " Seering " and " Sisco." It is occasionally taken 

 off Southam.pton ; several examples each about i foot long were obtained there in 

 October, i! 



