34 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
“ No bluefish or menhaden, so far as I know, have been seen hereabouts 
during the past season, nor have other marine animals been noticed, 
with the exception of an occasional finback whale blowing off shore.” 
Mackerel on the coast of Florida in winter.— In a letter 
which I received from Capt. Silas B. Latham, of Noank, Conn., dated 
April 2, 1887, he mentions the fact that he had seen mackerel during 
the past winter while fishing for red snappers off the east coast of Flor- 
ida, and he stated that there were two species, one of which he thought 
was the common mackerel [Scomber scombrus) and the other the chub 
mackerel [Scomber colias). 
I was interested to learn further details relative to the occurrence of 
mackerel in that region, and therefore wrote to Captain Latham. II 
have just received from him a letter dated April 10, in which he writes 
as follows : 
“The mackerel I saw were thrown up by large snappers, and they 
had not been dead long, as they were in a perfect state. They were 
‘spike’ size. One was our common species, and the other was what is 
called a ‘ chub mackerel.’ I have often seen them there, but have never 
seeq any larger specimens than the size named. I have seen them off 
Saint John’s River and off Mosquito Inlet, Florida. I have seen schools 
of small fish that I think were mackerel, but they might have been some 
other kind of fish.” [Capt. J. W. Collins, Washington, D. C., April 12, 
1887.] 
Range of the red snapper.— In a letter which I received from 
Capt. Silas B. Latham, of Noank, Conn., dated April 10, he says there 
is no doubt in his mind that fish of the red snapper species can be caught 
inside of the western edge of the Gulf Stream as far north as Cape Look- 
out, and possibly even farther north. He says: “The captain of a 
coaster told me he was becalmed once south of Lookout, in 35 fathoms, 
and he caught 35 red snappers, and would have taken lots more if the 
current had not swept him off.” [Capt. J. W. Collins, Washington, 
D. C., April 12, 1887.] 
Fatal injury inflicted by a starfish. — A fisherman at Port 
Discovery, named Charles Lambert, met with a singular accident which 
resulted in his death. A starfish got entangled on his hook, and while 
taking it off one of the sharp little spines or prickles pierced the skin 
of his left hand between the fingers. He paid no attention to it, but 
soon it festered, his arm began to swell, blood-poisoning ensued, and the 
man died in. the Marine Hospital here yesterday. It is the first time I 
have heard of such an instance. I know that the spines of the sea- 
urchin will produce sores if they are broken off in one’s flesh, but for a 
flabby starfish to injure a person in such a manner seems unaccountable. 
[James G. Swan, Port Townsend, Wash., April 10, 1887.] 
Assignments of eggs of brown trout and saibling, season 
of 1887. — To the courtesies of Herr E. von Behr, president of the 
Deutscher Fischerei-Verein, and Herr Max von dem Borne, of Berneu- 
