FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 477 



Order PEDICULATI. 

 Family LOPHIID^. Fishing Frogs. 



239. Angler {Lophius piscatorius Linnaeus). 



The Angler, or Goose Fish, is found in the North Atlantic, on both coasts. On 

 our coast it ranges southward to Cape Hatteras and is found in deep water as far 

 south as Barbadoes ; it also extends to the Cape of Good Hope. Its northward 

 range is to Norway and Nova Scotia. It is one of the most voracious fishes known. 



Mitchill calls this fish the Sea Devil and DeKay describes it as the American 

 Angler. He also mentions its names of Fishing Frog, Bellows Fish and Monk 

 Fish. He saw an individual that was 4 feet long. He states that the fish is not 

 eaten, but is often opened by fishermen for the sake of the numerous fishes which 

 are found in its stomach. The Angler is moderately abundant on the fishing banks 

 near Sandy Hook and small individuals are sometimes taken in Gravesend Bay. 



According to Dr. Smith, it is sometimes called Toad Fish at Woods Hole, Mass. 

 It is abundant in Vineyard Sound, usually from April i to July i, some seasons 

 from April to November, or as late as the traps are set. The spawn is often found 

 floating in Vineyard Sound. The traps often take boat loads of these fish which 

 are carried ashore and put on the land, no other use being made of them, although 

 the flesh is considered very palatable. Those caught in traps are from 4 inches to 

 4 feet long. The young keep off shore in deep water and are never taken in the 

 seine. 



Family ANTENNARIIDiE. 



240. Mouse Fish {Pterophryne Jiistrio Linnaeus). 



The Mouse Fish is a native of the tropical parts of the Atlantic ; it is abundant 

 on our Gulf coast and occasionally northward to Cape Cod, especially in floating 

 masses of gulfweed. 



DeKay calls it the Smooth Mouse Fish. His description was drawn from a 

 specimen 2 1-5 inches long. He does not state from what locality he received it, 

 but gives the range as extending from Charleston to Boston. An individual was 

 caught off the Long Island shore in 1897 ; it is not uncommon in floating masses of 

 gulfweed in the Gulf Stream. 



Dr. Smith says this fish is regarded as a straggler from the tropics, from whence 

 it comes in the Gulf Stream and is drifted ashore in gulfweed. It was first taken in 

 1877. In November, 1885, 12 specimens were seined in Quisset Harbor. From 



