NOTES ON THE FI8HES OF GANSO, NOVA SCOTIA 



85 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 22a 



FAMILY : XIPHIID^. 



14. Xiphias gladius (Linnffius). — This species while not one of the common species 

 captured at Canso:, is at times taken in the trap-nets. One was secured in that way 

 in 1901, and one in 1902 came to my notice. A demand has arisen for these fish com- 

 mercially, and they have a high reputation in the United States markets, and being of 

 large size (200 to 400 pounds being a frequent range of their weight) the fishery might 

 become a remunerative one were it developed. 



FAMILY : CARANGID^. 



15. Decapterus macarellus (Cuv. and Yalenc). — Two specimens of this species were 

 caught in the Chedabucto Bay trap-nets. They were wholly unfamiliar to the fisher- 

 men, and are apparently rarely seen at Canso. 



16. Trachurops crumenophthalmus (Bloch) ? — Two specimens were taken in the 

 trap-nets by local fishermen, to whom the fish was unknown before. The specimens 

 were found to difier from the description of Drs. Jordan and Evermann in two 

 respects, — there are no scales on the cheeks, and, along the side, a bright golden-yellow 

 Iband passes longitudinally below the lateral line anteriorly; but about midway it 

 crosses and then passes back above the lateral line. 



family: OENTROLOPHIDiE. 



17. Palinurichthys perciformis (Mitchell). — The fishermen call this species the 

 * Eudder fish,' and are familiar with it, as they state that it follows their sai?ling ves- 

 sels into port from the ' Banks.' One specimen was taken by hook at the Canso wharf. 



family: stromateid^. 



18. Poronotus triacanthus (Peck). — This small silvery fish is fairly common, and 

 is frequently captured in the trap-nets. 



family: SERRANIDiEI. 



19. Boccus lineatus (Bloch). — Young specimens 170 mm. long of this fine fish, 

 which when adult may measure 3 to 5 feet in length and weigh from 20 to 100 pounds, 

 are frequently caught by boys with hook when fishing for smelt. 



family: labrid^. 



20. Tautogolabrus aaspersus (Walbaum). — An excessively abundant fish about the 

 wharfs. It is very variable in size and colour, and is popularly known as the perch or 

 cunner. 



family: balistid^. 



21. Batistes carolinensis (Gmelin). — One specimen of this -emarkable File-fish was 

 brought in by the deep-set fishermen, who stated that it was ' gafied ' on Banquereau 

 Bank, about fifty miles southeast of Canso. It was seen near the surface swimming 

 around a floating buoy. Its captors had never seen one before, and it may be addjed 

 that while the members of the family are abundant in tropical seas they become very 

 scarce in higher latitudes. 



22a— 8 



