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N0TE8 ON TEE FISEE8 OF CANSO, NOVA SCOTIA 83 

 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 22a 



behind the spiracle in the specimens examined. In one large specimen I noticed a row 

 of transverse black lines on each side dorsally and running backward almost parallel, 

 but on the tail approaching and becoming obscure. 



Of the Teleosteans, or bony fishes, specimens embracing fifty-one species passed 

 under my examination, and in regard to these the following notes were prepared : — 



FAMILY : ANGUILLID^. 



1. Anguilla cJirysyya, Kafinesque. — ^Specimens of the common eel are plentiful in 

 the long eel-grass inshore and in shallow water. They are caught in traps and eel-pots. 

 The young, less than 10 cm. in length, are also found in shallow water near the shore. 



family: clupeid^. 



2. Clupea harengus (Linnseus). — The common herring is not abundant and is not 

 commercially important. A few are taken from the trap-nets, but never more than a 

 barrel or two. They varied in length from 189 mm. to 235 mm. 



3. Pomolohus pseudoharengus (Wilson). — This species, called locally the Alewife 

 • or Gaspereau is taken in small quantities in the trap-nets, but is commercially unim- 

 portant. 



family: salmonid^. 



4. 8almo solar (Linnaeus.) — Young specimens about 230 or 250 mm. in length are 

 commonly taken in the early summer, and adults are caught in spring and early sum- 

 mer. 



family: argentid^. 



5. Osmerus mordax (Mitchell) — The smelt is common, though not found in the vast 

 quantities which occur in the more northern estuaries. It is caught by hook and line 

 from the wharfs, and in the trap-nets. Owing to the limited quantities taken, none 

 are shipped from Canso to the markets as a rule. 



family: PCECILEDiE. 



6. Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus). — The common killifish is plentiful in brackish 

 ponds near the beach lat Canso. 



family: SCOMBRESOCIDiE. 



7. Scomhresox saurus (Walbaum). — ^Large schools of this species can often be seen 

 skipping over the water trying to escape from the voracious pollack. A few are caught 

 in the trap-nets, and on one occasion a specimen was washed on board the tug during 

 one of our scientific trips in the bay. 



^ family: gasterosteid^. 



8. Pygosteus pungitius (Linnseus) . — In one pond near the seashore this small fish 

 is very common ; but, curiously enough, it is entirely absent from another pond quite 

 similar in its physical features, and practically adjoining. 



9. Gasterosteus hispinosus (Walbaum) . — This species is abundant in tidal pools and 

 • in ponds near the beach. They seem to be of two sizes, with no intermediatje links^ 



Those of larger size are 53-60 mm. in length, and are confined to the tidal pools, while 



