308 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Bay, a small inlet about 8 miles to the eastward of Woods Hole. The fact that several black-bellied 
flat-fish were taken at Waquoit during the early months of the year 1900 is of special interest, since it 
would seem to indicate that the blotching of the lower side of the fish is an hereditary character, and 
it also gives strong evidence that the efforts of the Commission to increase the number of shore fishes 
by artificial propagation are by no means futile. Mr. Vinal N. Edwards states that he has seined at 
Waquoit for nearly thirty years, and that he never found a flat-fish from that locality that was either 
spotted or dark on the lower side until February and March of the present year. The specimens 
which we have taken this year are all between 7 and 8 inches in length — that is, they are two years of 
age. We have not taken a single specimen, either less than two years of age or more than two years 
of age, that has any marking upon its lower surface. It would seem, then, that these black-bellied 
specimens have grown from the fry planted at Waquoit in the early spring of 1898. (H. C. Bumpus.) 
Pseudopleuronectes americanus. 
A male in spawning condition, 14 inches long, taken in a fyke net in Waquoit Bay, February 23, 
1900, has its eyes and mouth on the left side — the first of the kind I have taken (V. N. Edwards.) 
Bothus maculatus, Sand-dab; Window-pane. 
In 1899 Mr. Williams found the “ window-pane ” not so abundant as in 1898. The growth of 
these fish is somewhat remarkable. Fish skimmed from the surface and placed in glass vessels 
increased from 10 to 21 mm. in ten days. (H. C. Bumpus.) 
Paralichthys oblongus, Four-spotted Flounder. 
While seining at the head of Great Harbor on June 27, Mr. Williams caught a young four-spotted 
flounder about 2^ inches in length. This capture is of considerable interest, as the young have never 
before been taken at Woods Hole, although they were taken at Menemsha in 1886. (H. C. Bumpus.) 
Tautoga onitis, Tautog. 
During the winter of 1898-99 many tautog perished because of the formation of anchor ice in the 
beds of Vineyard Sound, where they are accustomed to spend the winter. A great many bodies were 
washed up on the shore and were picked up by the fishermen and sent to market. In the summer of 
1899 the tautog were very much less abundant than during the previous years, and there were no 
fishermen who found it profitable to fish for them. One is naturally inclined to attribute their 
present scarcity to the mortality mentioned. The winter of 1899-1900 was exceptionally mild and 
no dead tautog were seen along the shores. (H. C. Bumpus.) 
Cryptacanthodes maculatus, Gliost-fisli. 
On January 19, 1900, a ghost-fish, 11 inches long, was taken at Edgartown and sent to the 
Commission. Only two other specimens are known to have been taken in this vicinity, one in 1875 
the other in 1896. (V. N. Edwards.) 
Leptocephalus conger, Conger Eel. 
During the first half of November, 1899, conger eels were plentiful and very large, and some 
were taken almost every day. On the morning of November 9 two, weighing 12 pounds each, were 
caught. (V. N. Edwards.) 
Fistularia tabacaria, Trumpet-fish. 
A large specimen of this straggler from the tropics was seined by me as late as November 1, 1899. 
It was 20 inches long, exclusive of the tail. (V. N. Edwards.) 
Exocoetus lieterurus, Flying-fish. 
In 1886, and possibly on one previous occasion, this fish lias been detected at Woods Hole. One 
12 inches long was seined at Menemsha Bight, Marthas Vineyard, on August 1, 1899; at the same place 
another, somewhat smaller, was caught in a fish trap on August 21. (H. M. Smith.) 
Rachycentron canadum, Cobia; Crab-eater. 
This fish has rarely been observed in recent years, and was much commoner twenty-five years 
ago than at any time since; only small (5 or 6 pound) specimens have heretofore been seen. On July 
18, 1899, a fine example 4£ feet long, and weighing 60 pounds, was caught in the Fish Commission 
trap in Buzzards Bay and retained alive until August 31. (H. M. Smith.) 
