548 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The only previous list is that of Verrill (18735), who names 22 species, 5 
asteroids, 5 ophiuroids, 4 echinoids, 7 holothurians, and 1 crinoid. The latter, 
however, and one of the ophiurans (Amphiura abdita Verrill), have never been taken 
within the Woods Hole limits, nor is it probable that either occurs there. Of the 5 
starfishes, 2 are undoubtedly identical (Aster ias forbesi and arenicola ), so there are 
really only 19 bona fide Woods Hole species in the list. During the past four 
summers 5 other species (2 starfishes, 1 brittle star, and 2 holothurians) have been 
collected within the above-given limits, so that now 24 species are properly credited 
to Woods Hole, more than one-third of which are holothurians. 
The number of species listed is small, but includes representatives of two quite 
distinct faunas, making the region one of much interest. The southern and western 
portions of the region mark the northern limit of several distinctively southern species 
(such as Mellita pentapora, Ophiura brevisj)ina, Thy one briar exis) , while the northern 
and eastern portions mark the southern limit of several distinctly northern species 
(Sol-aster endeeco , OpMoglypJm robusta , Cucumaria frond, osa.") It is interesting to note 
that not fewer than 9 of our 24 species occur on the northern shores of Europe, while 
4 occur in Bermuda and the West Indies. Only 10 can be called common in the Woods 
Hole region, and 4 of these common only in very restricted areas, so that, unless the 
exact locality is known, the chances are against collecting more than a half-dozen 
species. Moreover, the common species vary greatly in their abundance from year 
to year, a species easily found one summer being looked for in vain the next season. 
For example, the starfish Asterias forbesi was very abundant in Woods Hole harbor 
in 1895; in 1899 it was almost wanting and only small specimens occurred; in 1902 it 
was again abundant. Similar facts could be given regarding the common sea-urchin, 
Arbaeia , and the small red starfish, Cribrella. 
The best collecting grounds for echinoderms in this region are undoubtedly on 
the shoals east of Chatham and Nantucket. On the fishing ground known as Crab 
Ledge, off Chatham, in about 17 fathoms of water, we collected on August 22, 1902, 
4 species of starfish, 3 brittle stars, 1 sea urchin, and 1 holothurian. Southeast of 
the Round Shoal light-ship, and about 8 miles off Sankaty Head, Nantucket, in 12 
fathoms, August 13, 1902, we collected 4 species of starfish, 2 brittle stars, 3 sea 
urchins, and 1 holothurian. Of the 9 species at Crab Ledge, 3 were not taken at 
Sankaty, while of the 10 species of the latter station, 4 were not found at Crab Ledge; 
more than half of all the species of this region were therefore taken at these two 
stations, and 2 other species are known to occur there. In Vineyard Sound, including 
the deep water off Gaj' Head, 15 species have been taken, but at least 8 of these are 
rare and very seldom occur in the sound. At no one station have more than 6 
species been taken. In Buzzards Bay, including the deep water off' Cuttyhunk, only 
8 species occur, and 1 of these is extremely rare. 
From the point of view of human economy, the echinoderms of the Woods Hole 
region are of little importance. None of the 24 species is directly valuable for any 
purpose. The large Cucumaria frondosa has occasionally been used as food, and no 
less an authority than Dr. William Stimpson recommends it, but it is too rare in the 
Woods Hole region to be of any use. The starfish, Asterias forbesi, is of commercial 
significance wherever oysters are cultivated, because of its destructiveness to that 
rtThe recorded occurrence of this species on the Florida reefs is not beyond question; but, even if correct, there is no 
doubt that the shoals east of Nantucket are the southern limit of the species as a littoral form. 
