NOTES ON THE FISHE8 OF CAN80, NOVA SCOTIA 



87 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 22a 



family: CYCLOPTERIDiE. 



29. Cyclopterus lumpus (Linnaeus). — This fish, generally known as the lumpfish, 

 lumpsucker, or in Scotland the 'paidle/ is plentiful at Canso in the spring; but much 

 scarcer in summer. I examined one specimen caught by a fisherman on his baited hook 

 while fishing for pollack. The colour appears to fade very quickly from the slimy 

 skin after death. 



family: blenniid^. 



30. rholis gunnellus (Linnaeus). — This eel-like familiar fish, often called the Gun- 

 nel or Butterfish, is very common under stones at low water, and eludes capture by 

 reason of its exceedingly slimy, slippery integument. 



31. Stichoeus punctatus (Fabricius). — One specimen of this peculiar blenny was 

 found in the beam- trawl net when fishing in 18 fathoms of water in Chedabucto Bay 

 on a sandy bottom. Another was obtained in a moribund condition under a wharf. 

 The markings differ very much from the description of Drs. Jordan and Evermann. 

 There is no tinge of scarlet ; but the colour is light-brown above, whitish-yellow below, 

 while black blotches occur dorsally, and eight or nine large irregular brownish blotches 

 on the sides. There are twelve black spots on the anal fin. The blotches on the side 

 are somewhat indistinct in one of the specimens. 



32. Vivaria suhhifurcata (Strong). — Four specimens of this species were obtained. 

 One was found under some stones on the beach, when looking for gunnel or butterfish, 

 while two were brought up in the dredge in 6 to 10 fathoms of water, and the fourth 

 was taken in the beam-trawl net in the bay in 30 fathoms of water. It would appear, 

 therefore, not to be wholly a deep-water fish, and I may add that there can be no doubt 

 as to my identification of the specimens. 



family : CRYPTACANTHODID^. 



33. Cryptacanthodes maculatus (Storer). — This rather uncommon fish is taken on 

 the hooks of the haddock-trawls at about 20 fathoms depth. It is often called the 

 Lamper-eel, in common with Zoarces the viviparous blenny. All the specimens in my 

 hands were dark in colour; the lateral line was distinct, showing about 140 pores, 

 and the colouring is lighter along this line. 



family : ANARHIOHADID^. 



34. Anarhichas latifrons (Steenstrup and Hallgrimsson). — One very large specimen 

 of the wolf -fish was taken on the trawl of the steamer Active in about 50 fathoms. I 

 learned that not more than one or two specimens are secured in a season, so that it is 

 not a common fish. Its length was 1,166 mm., or including the caudal fin to its final 

 margin, 1,240 mm. The shape of the fish differed very much from that given by Drs. 

 Jordan and Evermann, as the abdomen was far more prominent, the vertical depth 

 being contained three times in the length. The mouth for so large a fish seemed small, 

 and the vomerine teeth extended within one centimetre of the posterior palatines. 

 The American authorities referred to are certainly in error in stating as a generic 

 character the presence of an air-bladder. There is no sign of such an organ in this 

 species or in the Sea-cat, A. lupus. The dorsal fin is continuous with the caudal fin; 

 but becomes very much narrowed as it approaches the caudal. This fish is of a dark- 

 brown chocolate colour, obscurely mottled. Four sea-urchins, 45 to 60 mm. in diameter, 

 were found intact in the stomach, except that the spines were detached. 



35. Anarhichas lupus (Linnaeus). — This species is common at Canso, and almost 

 every trawl of hooks brings up a few. The local fishermen call it ' Catfish,' as they do 



22a— 81 



