FISHES FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF WOODS HOLE. 
97 
ISTIOPHORIDiE. The Sail-Fishes. 
94. Istiophorus nigricans (Lac6pfede). Sailfish. (*) 
Rare. Taken only at Quisset Harbor, where during the past 25 years about half a dozen have 
been caught in a trap; all were about 9 feet long. 
95. Tetrapterus imperator (Bloch & Schneider). Spearfish. (*) 
Generally rare, but between 1885 and 1890 numbers were taken in the traps in Vineyard Sound 
and Buzzards Bay during July and August. Most were caught in the trap farthest up Buzzards Bay 
at Quisset Harbor. 
XIPHIIDJE. The Sword-Fishes. 
96. Xiphias gladius Linnaeus. “ Swordfish (*) 
Abundant near Gayhead. Rare now in Vineyard Sound, but some time ago a number were taken 
there annually near Tarpaulin Cove. 
CAR AN GID-53. The Pompanos, Crevalles, Amber-Fishes, Etc. 
97. Oligoplites saurus (Bloch & Schneider). Leather-jacket. (*) 
Very rare. Only three instances of its occurrence known. In 1874 one specimen was caught in 
a trap at Menemsha; on August 13, 1875, another was taken, and in September, 1886, two or three 
specimens were taken in a pound net at the breakwater. Specimen in the Woods Hole collection, 
from Newport, Rhode Island, taken September 10, 1886. 
98. Naucrates ductor (Linnaeus). “Pilot-fish." 
Recorded by Professor Baird in 1871. Not common in inshore waters. The banded rudder-fish 
(Seriola sonata) is usually mistaken for this species by the fishermen. 
99. Seriola zonata (Mitchill). Shark-pilot; Eudder-fish; “Pilot-fish.” (* t §) 
Common from July to October. Usually seen around spiles, pound-net stakes, vessels, and under 
floating seaweed. In July and August, 1897, was often met with in Vineyard Sound, under gulf- weed 
and eelgrass; also in Eel Pond, Great Harbor, Quisset Harbor, Hadley Harbor, and elsewhere. While 
the Grampus was moored at the Woods Hole pier in August, 1897, there was a school of “pilot-fish,” 
6 to 7 inches long, beneath the bow and stern for several weeks, feeding chiefly on Menidia gracilis. 
They were very shy and would not take the hook, but some were caught with a dip net. This species 
is not distinguished by fishermen from Naucrates ductor. Examples as small as 1| inches in length 
are taken in summer. 
100. Seriola lalandi Cuvier & Valenciennes. Amber-fish. (* t §) 
Rare. An amber-fish, 2J feet long, taken at Woods Hole September 10, 1895, is apparently 
referable to this species. Another, 3 feet 1 inch long, taken July 8, 1892, and several others, obtained 
at various times, have been preserved. 
101. Seriola dumerili (Risso). Amber-fish; Amber-jack, (t §) 
Rare. The Woods Hole collection contains three specimens, from 7f to 13 inches long, taken in 
August and September. 1 
102. Decapterus punctatus (Agassiz). Pound Robin; Scad; Cigar-fish. ('* t) 
Reported by Professor Baird in 1871. Recently very rare and observed only in Quisset Harbor; 
taken there in 1886 and on only one or two other occasions. 
103. Decapterus macarellus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Mackerel Scad. (* t) 
Common every year in fall, but not observed at other times. Comes in October and remains about 
a month. In Great Harbor several hundred have been taken at one seine-haul. No full-grown fish 
ever observed. Those taken are usually 5 inches long, none over 6 inches. In October, 1897, the 
fish was remarkably abundant in Vineyard Sound, some traps taking 10 barrels daily. 
104. Trachurops crumenophthalmus (Bloch). Goggler; Big-eyed Scad. (* t) 
Common every year in fall, from about October 15 to November 15. All are 4 to 6 inches long. 
‘See Rept. U. S. F. C. 1896, p. 172. 
F. C. B. 1897 7 
