BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 129 
Vol. ¥11. Washington, D. €. May 12, 1888, 
— REPORT ©IV THE FISHES OBSERVED IN GREAT ECJCJ- BAR. 
IS OR BAIT, NEW JERSEV, J»URIN<» THE SUMMER ©F 1887. 
By TAELET©^ If. BEAN. 
Ichthyologist , U. S. Fish Comviission. 
In the summer of 1854 Prof. Spencer F. Baird, then Assistant Secre- 
tary of the Smithsonian Institution, spent a period of six weeks on the 
coast of New Jersey, principally at Beesley’s Point and Long Island, 
New York, 4< studying the habits and distribution of the principal species 
of fishes that are known on that portion of our shores during the summer.” 
Professor Baird took 67 species, and in his report to the Secretary of 
the Smithsonian Institution, which was printed in the Ninth Annual 
Beport of the Institution for 1854, he gives descriptions of colors taken 
from the fresh and living fish, notes on the natural history and distri- 
bution of many of the economic species, and the vernacular names em- 
ployed by the fishermen of the bay. He gives, also, a description of 
the physical features of the region explored. In this report the follow- 
ing new species are described : Pomotis chcetodon , Centrarchus pomotis , 
Lobotes emarginatus , JEucinostomus argenteus , Hydrcirgyra lucice , and Cy- 
prinodon parvus , all of which, except one, are still regarded as valid. 
This was the first systematic account of marine fishes made by Profes- 
sor Baird, and it is the only one of the kind which has emanated directly 
from his pen. It was here that he originated the methods of observa- 
tion of marine fishes which were long afterwards applied in his greater 
researches on behalf of the United States Government into the causes 
of the decrease of food-fishes and their propagation in the waters of the 
United States. 
In the spring of 1887 Professor Baird expressed a desire to have the 
writer undertake a new exploration of the waters of Great Egg Harbor 
Bay with the view of discovering what changes had taken place in the 
fauna during the long interval since 1854. In accordance with this 
wish I was directed to go to that region in July, 1887, to make collec- 
tions and observations. Finding that Beesley’s Point is remote from 
railroads and without telegraphic communication I decided to make 
my headquarters at Somers Point, on the opposite side of the bay and 
several miles distant. I was assisted in my work by Mr. L. M. McCor- 
mick, of Oberlin College, Ohio, who remained at Somers Point from 
August 20 to September 9. I am indebted also to Mr. Bolton E. Steel- 
man, whose skill in navigation and in the details of fishing aided me 
materially. 
Bull, U. S. E.C. 87—9 
