SO Be Oe OOH & OO 6 ee ee Oe ee eee ee ne ee ee ee me ee ee +e eee em oe ee we Oo ee ee eee OO Ne em oe ee ne = rer ot tot: eee er re or or oe eee OO oy ee eee ee ee ee mee Heese ee oO ee oe Se eo ee weereee a a a ee Pt er et rer St ee ore _- Ce eee 6 ee ee bob ew me ee te meee 4+ oe me me te oe ee . Oe tee woe eee een or er ee ot et = os ett te Orel’ ee > Phi Pea. # Ure Chg 4 Ade EE OE Uy Ga CL Sd CERT OEE OL Od Dt oT COL OHHH Oe OO Oe HE eH e © Ae eee 44.64 #¢ ee eee ee hee ee ee Ot ee ee 88 6 Bn re ne ee ee Oe 0 Oe Ow wm 3 ee ne Oo Oe Oo ee Om hw ee OO ee > * Seer a a oe ob ee Oo Oo & © 0 0 Oe ee Oe Oe ee Oe On Oe ee ee we eee Sete be tee we 6 oe Fe Oe ee Oe & Ob OOO ee Oe ee On we ey Oe Oe te me ee ee Oe ee ee ee eee Oe ee ee ee ee we wee = Oe PE OS ie te ee eee et et rs ee ete eee Ce a or ee et oe ot oe ee aS Ser oe ee ee ee ee Oe Oe 8 0 me ee oe tot ee ee 7 Tot, OO Oe On ee ee ee re ee et ee eo oo +e e+ ee oe Ps Q © oe me Porte rer rte ale created putes eer erteietriararertrers rte o- + ee Owe > << ee ee 8 ew ee ee 6: Ms ’ “* oe +e ee Hee oe em ee ee eee et ee oe St ee + + & o& ox ks ee Fo ee 06 Oe Oe Ot Ct Oe ee ee Oe OO Oe ee ee ee ee O + ot 2+ += e+ ee em ee ee ea eS ee tt OO Oe Oa Oe OO OO EO OO Ow “re o 6 e+ ~T © oe 8 Oe ee ee or eh COTA fe me -- -o * * > +397 pletpial >> St Ot b+ ee > et ot i ee ee ee OO Oe me & Foe ee o* Oe + os r (oie et er > a ee ee s+? er =<. oe } ae =e a te = * * . . ae > : Ot & & a. y » ‘wales . +e -? — oe © oe + ee oi OO o- oo Oe OS Oe ee Te o> 4 om OS Hh hee HS ee , 9, O&A e 08. Po Os Oe w- 2 - A rt ee ote ot kt ot oe oe en Oe eS Be OH OO fe tm ee ie or ie Go e © eee 9 8 we oe He © 88 eee ew ee et ee a et ee et te tt Pe Oe a Oe Oe = ES H Sn en ee Oe a a ee ee ee ae, ee ew ~~ ee Ste pains Oe ee Be we ee oe ee CNT LE tt Oe ee Oo ee ee —— 7 Neb Se Ne - + es = © eo Sxattgocte : ee ee ee ee ee On ee ee ne ee ee wy ee en eg ere oom ee Fe. me ae re ee Oe Oe “—-« —— ee we eo 6 oe ae owe Ne Re a oe en ee en Oe ee et oe a oe tk ees : Cee Oe ee > Pe et oe ee ors ee eee On en ee Oe ee ee ee Oe ek i ee a dd aed . * Oto _-—< ee et ot ae ew we oe ee ee & One ee Ni TE ANE Ue Foreiee: Prruved (Ca port o€ the Commissions of Tn lawd vis Shanes (2 State of Rhode Fsland xnd Lrovidence Llantations. THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES, GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, 1906. PROVIDENCE: E, L, FREEMAN & SONS, STATE PRINTERS. 1906. COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES OF RHODE ISLAND. HENRY T. ROOT, President, Treasurer, and Auditor........ Providence, R. I, TeeMonke SOMPEWICK, Vice-President... ...... «> aelys cme Newport, R. I. Vive IPL MOR SINOIN |, SZonaCi sonia wean deen ee © P. O. Box 966, Providence, R. I. TIES. NADL DTN 2 0 PIS 8 oe SC Sct Westerly, R. I. ies Egle) SURAT): oo. c Sijon ee cn e's ss 0+ bis eo ee Brown University. ADE WBHRT DW, ROBERTS.......-....-...2. O. Box 264..Woonsocket, Ke I: re TEL 13 CG 088) 39.4 0). aR AIRS Br Central Falls, R. I. Foe, Cry 2. To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at its January Session, 1906: The Commissioners of Inland Fisheries herewith present their annual report for the year 1905: As heretofore, the policy of your Commission has been to purchase such yearling trout and black bass as were required to stock favorable watersinthestate. The beneficial results of such stocking of suitable streams and ponds is unquestioned. Without this annual restocking it would be but a matter of time before these valuable fish would disappear from our waters. Anglers throughout the state have become interested in the efforts of your Commission, and have given their co-operation in maintaining the close season and in the pre- vention of illegal fishing. Without their co-operation much of the restocking would be in vain, as it is obviously impossible for your Commissioners to maintain any suitable patrol of the widely scattered fishing-waters. Several times the question has arisen as to whether it would be practicable and feasible for the Commission to establish a hatchery within the state for the purpose of providing fry and yearlings to be used in stocking the waters of the state. This method is followed by many other states with considerable success. It must be re- membered, however, that most other states have larger areas to restock, requiring many more fish, and that their fishery interests are many times more important than our own. There seems to be no doubt, as it is evidenced by reports from fishermen in all parts of the state, that we are securing excellent results by the method now 4 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. followed, and that, too, at no very great expense. As long as we can secure fish for stocking purposes near by, and in good condition and at a fair price, there seems to be no need of setting up a hatchery, which would require a considerable amount of experimentation before successfully established, and which would also be a considerable expense. The policy of your Commission in planting yearling trout instead of fry seems to be a good one. There is no doubt that a larger proportion of adult fish is secured by this means than would be if fry were planted. Although in some states the practice of planting fry is still followed, yet it seems to be the general policy to abandon this practice and to use yearlings only. The chances of a fish sur- viving the many dangers to which trout are exposed increase pro- portionately with the size of the fish. The yearling fish, therefore, stands a much better chance than the smaller fry. And the advan- tage derived is not only in securing larger fish at an earlier period, but is also in securing a larger number of fish of lawful size in the streams for a given expenditure of money. Your Commission, as usual, made application to the U. 8. Bureau of Fisheries for a supply of shad fry, but this year, owing to the exceedingly backward season, was unable to secure any. It is hoped that in future years it will be possible to investigate more fully the habits and requirements of the shad and to make more intelli- gent efforts to secure the return of this valuable fish to our waters. At the Wickford laboratory of the Commission steady progress has been made in the rearing and planting of lobsters. The past summer 103,572 lobster fry were reared to the fourth stage and distributed in the waters of Narragansett Bay. It is interesting to compare this total with the numbers reared in previous years. In 1899, at Woods Hole, Dr. Bumpus succeeded in rearing about 100 lobsterlings to the fourth stage. In 1900 at Wickford, 3,425 fry were reared to the lobsterling stage. In 1901 the number reached 8,974; in 1902, 27,300; in 1903, 13,500; in 1904, 50,597; making an entire total for all previous years at Wickford of 103,796, or only REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 5 224 more than were reared during this one season of 1905. There seems to be no reason why, with the increased knowledge coming from each season’s experience, this number might not still further be increased, while using the same apparatus, and with no extra expense. The practical results of this planting of young lobsters is un- questioned. Reports from the lobster fishermen show that more small lobsters were present in the localities where the fry were liberated than have been seen before for many years. It will be but a few years before these small lobsters will be of marketable size, and then the expense of developing the lobster rearing plant of the ‘Commission will be returned to the inhabitants of the state many times over. Such results as these are very gratifying, especially when we consider that nowhere else in the world have any such results been obtained. Indeed, nowhere else has it been possible to rear lobster fry at all successfully, and the results of your Commission’s work have attracted the attention of those interested in promoting the fishery interests in all parts of the world. In this country our work has been watched by the United States Bureau of Fisheries and the commissioners of other maritime states, and now that our efforts are crowned with success both the national Bureau and the commissioners of other states are ready to follow our example. Indeed, the neighboring State of Connecticut has already appropriated $10,000 to establish a hatchery, and a com- mittee has visited our laboratory at Wickford to secure the informa- tion necessary to begin operations in their own waters. With each year the efforts of your Commission to enforce the laws regarding the capture of short lobsters or lobsters bearing eggs meet with better success. Two deputies have continued to safe- guard the interests of the lobster fishery, and have succeeded in prosecuting three offenders under the short-lobster law. They have seized and liberated in the waters of the bay 5,170 short lobsters imported into the state contrary to law. The fishermen are coming 6 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. to recognize, more and more, that the efforts of the Commission are for their own good, and that they are being protected against the illegal competition of those who willfully disregard the laws which have been created to preserve for them an important industry. Work in connection with the propagation of the clam has not been neglected. A careful watch has been kept on the shores of the bay in order to determine the location of the new set, so that they might be distributed in favorable localities, and the survey of the shore to determine the location of favorable localities for planting clams has been continued. In other states the planting of clams. has been commenced along the lines worked out by this Commission. Along scientific lines much progress was made last summer at the Wickford laboratory in determining the rate of growth of the: lobster, in studying his ability to repair injury, and his migratory propensities. Some of these facts will receive special treatment in the latter part of the report. The continued study of the physical and biological conditions of the bay was also carried well forward, especially along the lines of a survey of the shores to determine the location of favorable localities for planting clams, quahaugs, lob— ster fry, etc., and the determination of the distribution and numbers of food and other fishes in the waters of the bay. Your Commission again undertook the preparation of an exhibit at the fair of the Washington County Acricultural Society at Kings- ton. In co-operation with Hon. Rowland G. Hazard, of Peace Dale, and Mr. George A. Griffin, of Wakefield, an exhibit pertaining to sea farming was installed in a building provided for the purpose by authorities of the fair. Six large tanks of sea water were used for an exhibit of the more common food fishes of the Bay and many of the more rare or curious forms. Through the courtesy of the- New York Aquarium several specimens of Blue Angels, a beautiful Bermudan fish, were secured and kept alive through the fair. An- other tank of fresh-water fish and a collection of shell-fish, lobsters in various stages, models of nets and traps and other fishing utensils, were exhibited. Many thousands of persons were thus acquainted REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 7 with the efforts of the state in studying the problems and opportu- nities connected with the fishery interests. Your Commission wishes to record the fact that, whatever success has been obtained in preserving or restoring to the waters of the ‘state any of the industries connected with the fisheries has only been secured because of the continued support of your honorable body. In all of this work it is not one year that counts, but con- tinuous study and experiments carried through a series of years. Much has been done, but much remains to be done. The success which has been attained in the clam and lobster work should be extended to other lines, such as the propagation of food fish, crabs, scallops, quahaugs, etc. There can be no doubt but what the money expended for this work will return many times over, not only to those directly concerned with the fisheries, but to all the inhabitants of the state and to other states and other countries. In the absence from the country of the biologist of the Commission during the summer, the scientific work was carried on under the ef- ficient direction of Prof. F. P. Gorham. There follows the statement of the expenses of the Commission for the year. State of Rhode Island in account with Commissioners of Inland Fisheries. 1905. Dr. -Oct. 12. To paid for 40,000 yearling trout, distribution of same, ETaUe Meri UU] by clhch| 012% 1 Mace eee $1,308 83 Dec. 31. To expenses and salary of deputy commissioners under Holisheral aurea erat rig esas cs cre sien ses 2 ome 1,940 77 To expenses at laboratory investigating lobster, clam, and GuNeTMIShiCUlbUmeMeriae see «cite clos © ss). ela steers Che 3,745 52 To expenses of commissioners.............-.:.+-+--+5: 587 93 $7,583 05 1905. Cr. Jan. 6. By received from State Treasurer............. Pepe eis $61 99 18. nf o. Ae SOE ENE 2 Ut ios. his yhagt f 20 50 27. “ FE y ct «“ 82 40 Mar. April May 31. o Ww REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. AR alee i: | sb ens pera ete $84 80 BUM rce die ob ib tas cee 72 20 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 9 21. i + oe So eP i ee scte Bae t oo patesrn SeweRE 0 egsttovy ce S62 iE 30. if < : NPM EIS aR Seu 8 Om ho Beet ene 2 50 July 5. « aT: ID Sa) Ne ea 40 Aug. 2. 43 a . a ree Stn Sis eee 229 89 “ee “ce “ce “ Vip 50 10 1905. Aug. Nov. 16. 18. 14. 15. ele REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 11 1905. Nov. 29. By received from State Treasurer..................... $73 77 sf es e SE a Ee Nd eg eo) a 21 20 L me : 2. lg ORG R RCA Mae ae enol At iN 25 O00 + cpl TEES TARE CAA ee Ri, Ue 21 28 4 a ROW amerneee Dy Ae ed ee tear PeeN 36 05 cS “ : Lei Suen ees OP ACER SR St AARP one Ee 22 56 ae oe Bo bag tS ee Bienen teks eel eens, Bee 28 28 fe ss . aida fet Ae se Aad vig tod dae AS 19 60° gS ef a Sen MENT LOM Eee ADA Sea reat a Oh 100 04 Bec.” 1: et a SPP (fess otter; Salvi ses. 30 00 6. e a MRA a | Be eos tue 61 87 14. a 4 LOD VE Cet ther tee Oy Sectohe, Cae ae Oe 38 49 e oe H pee Dua neg s¥ate neler Lecsucneae Seis, 3 ers 41 67 15. a ss se EO a Tes ee eee 45 06 20. ou ck Ie Fee Gy seinen eC tee 48 27 27. " a pila | atic went eta ne Sic 10 20 ee ge ee a A ea org aod oct 10 40 ¢ ue ii NM le cstktos cack er it At ac ee ee 84 50 a ie ad (asic ee Ae aos eee aa 69 80 $7,583 05 The remainder of the report includes an account of the work undertaken by the Commissioners during the past year, which may be tabulated as follows: First. The stocking of our ponds and streams with suitable fresh-water fish, through the distribution of fry. Page 13. Second. The collection of data and statistics relating to the com- mercial fisheries. Page 15. Third. The location of fish-traps within the waters of Narra- gansett Bay, and the collection of data bearing upon their ownership. Page 21. Fourth. The continued examination of the physical and biological conditions of the waters of the Bay, begun in 1898. Page 29. Fijth. A continuance of the survey of the shores of the Bay, for the purpose of determining those portions which are most productive 12 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. of seed-clams, those most favorable for the planting of clams and for the distribution of lobster fry. Page 103. Sicth. The continued investigation of the life-history of the clam. Methods of artificial propagation and cultivation. Page 105. Seventh. The efforts to prevent the illegal taking of short lobsters Page 110. . Eighth. The propagation of lobster fry for the purpose of in- creasing the supply of lobsters in the waters of the state. Methods of artificial propagation and cultivation. Page 111. Ninth. The continued investigation of the life-history of the lobster. Page 153. The list of members of the Fisheries Commissions or Departments of the United States and the several states and territories, compiled by the United States Bureau of Fisheries, is submitted in Appendix A, and a copy of the fisheries laws of Rhode Island is given in Appendix B. Respectfully submitted, Wm. P. MORTON, Secretary. December 31, 1905. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 13 I. Tue Srockine OF OUR PONDS AND STREAMS WITH SUITABLE FRESH-WATER FisH, THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTION OF FRy. Trout. Your Commission has purchased 48,300 yearling trout, and these have been placed in suitable streams throughout the state. The distribution of these fish in the northern part of the state was in charge of Messrs. Roberts and Boardman; in the central part, of Messrs. Root and Morton; while Newport county and the southern part of the state were cared for by Messrs. Southwick and Willard, respectively. Bass. During the year 1905 we again received, through the kindness of the Bureau of Fisheries of the Department of Commerce and Labor, a consignment of black bass. In all 700 small-mouth black bass and 300 large-mouth black bass were distributed in such ponds as are known to be suitable for the propagation of these fish. This number is slightly larger than the number received last year. Pickerel. A slight addition to the General Laws of the state was made by the General Assembly at its last session, to make the taking of pickerel under 10 inches illegal. A copy of the law follows: CHAPTER 1125. An AcT FOR THE PROTECTION OF PICKEREL AND IN ADDITION TO CuHapreR 171 or THE GENERAL Laws, ENTITLED “OF CERTAIN FISHERIES.”’ Section 1. Every person who catches or takes from any of the waters of this state or has in his or her possession any pickerel less 14 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. than 10 inches in length, shall be fined five dollars for each such offence; but any person catching or taking any pickerel less than 10 inches in length from any of the waters of this state and immediately returning the same alive to the water from which taken, shall not be subject to such fine: The possession of any such pickerel not of the prescribed length shall be prima facie evidence to convict. Sec. 2. This act shall take effect upon and after its passage. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 15 II. THE COLLECTION OF DATA AND STATISTICS RELATING TO THE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. It would be impossible to estimate at all accurately the total amount of fish caught in the waters of the state. The nearest to accurate data that can be obtained are those derived from the books of the transportation companies. The tables here submitted show the amount of shipments and the yearly variation in shipments from the city of Newport by regular transportation lines, but are no indication of the total amount of fish caught. Table Showing the Number of Barrels of Fish, Lobsters, Crabs, Clams, Sounds and Roe Shipped out of the State from Newport by Regular Transportation Lines. Also the Number of Swordfish, Horse-Mackerel, Sturgeons, and Sharks for Each Month During the Year 1905. | | | ed os - | ees bie a a | do | 5 [go | g2|a°|ga) 272 |2a) gan January..... 1,264; 202)..... STN <7 Al Gnck al | eB Cock ol | Sha dl Beemer be) February.... 312) ewe eee See E Pe Set alte c 9 ona: Paty cee 2 March....... Alig MOAIS. 22° Sire ellseme ck male sty: f ee AE ee ene Aer 5. 44g) 72102. bord set MCE Tels aaa: Borg.) 10.467, 2122) ous. Speen Millie tea thes tee 58 Wwe "lielll acy ane ume it 16,064) 105 18 Sakic false) Mc OF 6 3)1 Porpoise. Gaby ses) 2: 3,961 91 SVAN UO Ess aides 611 80 3/1 Shark. August...... 5,104) 104 By alg es alle aoc 22 Tate gel teak eas 2 September... 3,559 7 V5 24 7 3 AA | eet hs Sali. 5 ae October..... 4,087 Zita aDipns 6 IS aeaees 2 Days 5 - tyes) November. . . PN TASV le cio 1 6}. PAN Ae ANE? eae Sere N December.... 1,600 AGiigw 1}. Ley Sesestresl Cos, Al eae fot eee ep otal. 4. 50,127| 977| 122| 80| 23| 3] 723| 91 | 26l.......... | | 16 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Table of Fish, Lobsters, etc., Shipped from Newport by Regular Tereapaeetion Lines Out of the State for the Past 18 Years. Perle S nie) Soleo) SL Bat ege ll gall eeMiemales - rs ce o | 3 | @l/ ov] o | 2S | 2e/28|23| ce E ae | & | 8 | 8 188] 8 | 88 | 86) gs) ba) Ba fQ Qn pQ ~Q OQ ifm| wa Zn | Zo An Za. | 4M WRT Acie 16,657 SA) Sooke lis hth. Malle eestor |e ya 10) tr ea ee ee HSS. oe TIE C Se ges (a UE elena ee ieee ee ot aH hid lh) | TSSO....: 19,306 2,047)... .)....|-.0.Jeeeefereeperee. see Filan ctl ask oe #890... . SOS) | 2G RONA eae cl Rese Baal meres Re ae ee 7 oe BSMOS2 DOOM ee cil cee. oe es all cee a ea he OM RT alld) coll pass S02". 32. ISON COD SIN et tlleeare [sre are Ue |b een sean TR IS Neha) || 6 i BAAD IS SOO ci 2 let nee acne Seen) nisl he oe | cg oc ea 1894.3. 209 Po BOD ee | ee eee eel eee aD ke ae ote | 3. ese etaleen teen a ener SOD... PAG 22 2 VAD) Male lt er | nce [oa nelle ee A ee le eater T8065 >: 2Oj425)r 1,728) MENS one (eee 1, GON VS aS een alia BOT. ee: 25,098), 2,039] 2. isle cha El eee ec) Ab ee a eee es TS98). ... BA OG5). GUAGS) 2). Slesexd alc soehs)| Mics, lls Ae mae eee ee tee eee 1899)... SAONT) ATA! Teo. I = te all ae | eg 2 eee eee eal eee 1900... 2. SS ASA ATOR ame ee Oe Re a Gt Dae chee ee A9G0T ou. 50 500). 4.308 (e SNe, occ] e tase, £2 1903202. 54 SSAl- VATA. Le S84) Bl) Je a eee 4] oT eat eee 1904..... G2 106) LOFT)! ASE CAs A8|0 Sale ieee eae al eee 1ON5. 50,127 977\..... «|. 122] “S0l! 23 es) yea) 90) 26) ie Total..| 595,428) 43,902) 18] 252) 88] 23] 3/2,231) 506] 37) 1) 1 One or two facts are noticeable in these tables. First, the number of barrels of fish shipped in 1905 is less than for any year since 1900. This does not necessarily indicate any particular scarcity of fish, but merely that changes are taking place in regard to the transporta- tion lines made use of by the fishermen in shipping their catch. From the somewhat scanty data at hand there can be no doubt that the amount of fish caught has not appreciably decreased in the last ten years. The gradual development of the crab industry is also noticeable. The market for crabs is becoming better every year. Your Commission believes that, as the lobster experiments are now REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 17 on a firm foundation, attention should be paid to the crab question, which in the future is destined to become more and more important. Another striking fact is the rapid increase in the shipment of sword- fish. Each year finds more boats engaged in this lucrative fishery, and the fishes were more abundant this year than usual. The market for horse-mackerel, which are still abundant in offshore traps, and sturgeon, is also developing, and it is only a question of time when the demand for sharks and dogfish also will become insistent enough to attract the attention of enterprising fishermen. It seems strange that, as yet, no one has undertaken the capture and marketing of the tilefish. In these days, when everything that” comes to the hook is game or food, the neglect of this abundant supply of fine food fishes right at our doors is surprising. The work of Dr. Bumpus, formerly of this Commission and of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, showing that there is an abundant market for this fish and that it can easily be secured by fishermen from this state, which was fully described in the 29th Annual Report of this Commission for 1898, seems to have attracted scarcely any attention. The codfish season was better than usual this year. The scup season was poor. The scup season at Block Island lasted several days later than along the shore. This may be accounted for by the later season this year, or perhaps because of the large run of pollock which occurred offshore from Brenton Reef to Sakonnet about May 15th. This was the largest run of pollock for years. - The flatfish season was also very late, extending into May. On the whole, the line fishing in the bay was good; tautog, sque- teague, scup, and flatfish were fairly abundant, and, for the first time in several years, bluefish were taken in the upper waters of the Bay. The menhaden season was a poor one. The factories could not pay dividends. The epidemic among these fishes during the summer of 1904 may be to blame for this scarcity. Plans were made to continue the study of the disease this year. It was expected that it would recur again, but these expectations were not realized. With 3 18 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES the exception of a few dead fish found in the head waters of the Bay and one or two living fish showing symptoms of the disease seen in the neighborhood of Pawtuxet on June 9th, and one at Wickford on June 15th, no cases were observed. At any rate, menhaden were not nearly so abundant in the bay in 1905, and this fact lends credence to the belief that the epidemic was but the result of overpopulation, the effort of nature to regulate the overabundance of this particular fish, and was only indirectly due to pollution of the water. The scallop fishery this year was again practically a negative jduantity. There were no scallops in the bay. It will be recalled that in 1901 the set was so thick that, in the late fall the shores were actually lined with the shells of those which had been exposed by the tide and then chilled by the cold. These, of course, would not have been of marketable size until the next fall, since the seed scallops are protected by law. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, there was not much of a set in the summer of 1902, except in Greenwich Bay. In the fall of this same year the scallop fishing ended two months after the beginning of the open season, because the scallops were practically exterminated. The winters of 1903 and 1904 were unusually severe, and seemed to still further decrease the supply of scallops. This season there has been no scallop fishing whatever in the Bay. Only one place has been reported where more than one bushel has been taken, and that was near Fogland Point in the Sakonnet River. The winter up to February has been unusually mild and the men along shore report the occasional finding of con- siderable numbers of scallops, which have worked out from some unobserved spot in the eel-grass. This seems to indicate that enough are left to replenish the waters of the Bay if given an oppor- tunity. It may be that the previous two winters have been mainly re- sponsible for the great reduction in the number of these shell-fish. It is our opinion, however, that unrestricted fishing has been the real trouble. Such an important industry and such a valuable food animal should not be allowed to pass away without some efforts to REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 19 prevent it. A few close seasons would undoubtedly enable them to gain a foothold again, and then, with proper regulation of the fishing, they could be protected from complete extermination. Your Commission has made some efforts toward planting scallops in favorable places in the Bay, but as long as fishing is permitted to such an extent that all opportunities for breeding are destroyed, it will be impossible to get results. The following table indicates the amount of the lobster catch for the year 1905, as far as can be estimated from the reports of market- men and wholesale dealers. It will be noticed that the amount of lobsters has increased 122,296 pounds over last year. Number of Pounds oj Lobsters Caught in Rhode Island Waters for the Season of 1904 and 1905. Fish Markets. 1904. 1905. Burunpame «& Carey... 1.2.66 2c. dae 12,000 Pounds. 8,079 Pounds. olictsonrenMewit. «snake sty eee ae TOOCO Re MES(OLOL0)) = TEN TLAT Ue. Gate a ata sane 6,000“ 8,000 « RIMS rr Pa eey Ss). xis Here uetatd fv 9,000 “* 8,004 : Petteme ee re, Fe. ee ke Ss S00” ° oO) SULT FEW 0g ee aa OH 00M: 10,000“ BES LELDOOMS SIN tata. > cla owls es ston es SO 65250 LNG I ay: BX AS See ede Rie ee Ree 15 000m) S 20:63600) us LADEN STS SSSI ie need re ene eee er cane SMO UO), OF Me rs we imictlo oe TOES sho IS Ae a Be ce ety oh SIC UM ME eeu eI Aa 2 8 ee Bee PAMOERSON GS. < 6s tu as ccae WA ce bet 34,074 “ 31,965 Pounds. ERE CGINMe ct «Gens caMll. occas ee sys oes LES 4500 147,484 Saloons and Restaurants............... G00R T= 45,436 Sakonnet, | ee, 4 about cee sci 150,000 a iN Be Pee cUmEnnES, 28 3 Narragansett Pier, | Stole aravnigte Ss dip he eH BE © nace Gl i ie a ee 97,641 Pounds. Block Island, WaVeaicelay TS UTE BOP Pah Ree) occa ee eet ee nr ae a 100,000 “ Narragansett Pier, PBR oxteil kre) Rete ei WED at) mews Serhan HF 377,004 Pounds. 499 300 Pounds. 20 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Number of Boats Engaged in Lobster Fishing in this State for the Years 1904 and 1905. SAILBoatTs. Rowsoats. Ports. : : l 1904. 1905. 1904. 1905. 1904. | 1905. LS) DIRT PLC Fie gle eae Ree | 36 36 35 30 5,000 6,050 INREPACANGCLL. 02 2. 2 ee ae a 3 2 3 2 400 3900 HINCerstOWMess sess.) cate. 1 1 2, il 150 100 Sknlayaina pis yes Lee RR So | 1 1 5 5 250 250 | TEST RUS Ga eo ees 4 0 2 185 260 Witenes 26 oo. eee 2 1 0 2 180 200 Ginger TESTI AY 4 Cig a heats Sanches ne kate@ 0 il 1 70 70 WV 09) 8 Diy a ee aI | 1 2 4 4 400 400 Tock wWslamcinn s: y-ss..1s. ese, os eee | 48 8 0 2 1,200 1,200 RIENCE LOWE pees ute ok thse ae 0 3 3 100 100 RointG gudiGhe. ss. ees ss ok eee 0) 0 0 3° Al Ae 200 MoOtalesee .| 55 55 53 55 7,935 9,180 | | | | Crates. | Pounds. | Shorts.* | Ege. | | ABECerber Neen civ, ystems Ly gt) Ares al G47 | Suee PTAMUAT Vso ie tone (5) 8. sess aca See ly ooo, |". 68,;¢%0)) 4,110 50 BEMMIATYy. ces 3 YAS a ee | Tbs) 267A7bel 1627 6 PiserGlre sc) tie jae Gon alle | 320 56,600 800 10 52h) amen i Ga 28,175 330 8 CLES oj iM Ek e262 45,850 | 1,421 58 (OTE SS ds MAP 194 33,950 235 58 SOE QS cs ass wk a soe ae anes 1,756 | 307,520) 5,170 212 RG raOOME: ii. rk 2,209| 386,565 | 4,577 | 116 *The short lobsters in the above shipments were seized by the deputies and liberated in Rhode Island waters. ugraar LN1Od hung @ uN ae @ olen @ e 0) yng Union @ mom ays 3 sanwoou yy Set e ee wwe ~ue e = omy @ orerytig' @ suntv PU A® puro, @ 8 BUN + ‘~08@ "0D wa 'e A mung soho, y uyun mone bs sacl 3 won < @ ep yen uapMont 2 Paty ee s . e ue errr &F Ch “ 2% Ory xy 4@ ae Ree ere einiwoy. ae oatunag y e Moprory oped Ls ei = WORNION’ yuudy oe hans y vous, 088) (} s ewp woug fussy . oy ney ~ - & ® poe Woumny = & aay wn x S gran (_ ae eee & ‘i f = erate soo mor apoyenone < swoug Most fa HON PWT s 3 sougg 127 Wes ompen gd. © AMON P PT. .' h sug, Kou soi, Avigy Q ued PPC fauvyt wn \ wove : \ > ) mang -s vosoig p oy 1) wd ee nea) ‘e oy burt. L, ° ver g 5 es (\ ara owoy’ pee wn addon LNaoK RC | <4 ; +e e — oe es we = I “= a LS ia - . “9061 40J yxodey Auedmooon 03 ‘i SOLOIST PUBlA] Jo MorsstaM0D puvysy pony z JHs AG OsuVaaue "$061 40) sdeay ysiy jo uo}e207 ayy Suymous ‘AVE LLASNVOVUAVN ed Ad TTAZMADAAAAM 2091 vol zqatT eit to molisood sii gaiwodd 2uHT va a3Rnagan4 aeitsidait basil to goiaaismno pualal shots Ber tot troqed qaegmrooes OF s40"% TAI 20 Nr Ne Na Sat Sal Ea REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 21 III. THe Location or FisH—-TRAPS WITHIN THE WATERS or NAR- RAGANSETT BAY, AND THE COLLECTION OF Data BEARING UPON THEIR OWNERSHIP. A glance at the table giving the number of traps for each year since 1898, which is appended, shows that there has been a steady increase in the number of traps in Narragansett Bay and vicinity. Whereas in 1898 there were 119 traps, in 1905 there are 240. Sub- tracting from the latter the 6 which were set off Block Island, and were not included in the earlier reports, we see that in the past eight years the number of traps lacks only four of having doubled itself. The depletion in the amount of fish caught, which it was feared would be the outcome of extensive trap fishing, does not seem to have taken place. It should be remembered that the amount of fish caught this past year can not, with any approach to accuracy, be compared with years more than a decade ago. For the earlier years we are mostly dependent on the memory of the fishermen and not on any reliable records. Allowing for fluctuations from year to year, there can be little doubt that the amount of fish has not ap- preciably decreased during the past ten years. The distance which the traps have been placed from shore has increased very markedly. The immense traps of the Fisheries Company last season extended in an unbroken line for a distance of three miles from Sakonnet Light, and the results of the past season’s fishing have caused the fishermen to decide to still further extend their traps in the coming year. Offshore fishing has also been carried on later in the fall with good success. The principal items in regard to the past season’s fishing are the lateness of the season, both in time of commencement and length of run, and the unusual abundance of pollock and horse-mackerel. It might also be stated here that the impounding of scup which has taken place for the last few years seems to be of benefit to the scup fisheries in an unlooked-for manner. The scup which are thus i) Pe REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. impounded are full of spawn and, being retained for some time, are compelled to discharge their spawn in Rhode Island waters, the traps often swarming with fry. It is the accepted belief of fish culturists that fry hatched in one place tend to return each year to that particular place. If this is true the impounding is greatly beneficial to the scup industry in our state. The location of the traps is shown in the two accompanying charts. (Charts I and II.) TABLE SHOWING NUMBER AND GENERAL DISTRIBUTION OF FISH— TRAPS SINCE 1898. The following arbitrary divisions have been made for the sake of convenience: I. Providence River.—South to a line joining Warwick Point and Popasquash Point. Il. Greenwich Bay.—South of Providence River division in west passage to a line drawn east and west touching southern part of Hope Island. Ill. West Passage.-—The west passage south of Greenwich Bay region to a line drawn due west from Beaver Tail and west of line connecting the east end of Greenwich Bay boundary and North Point. IV. Mount Hope Bay.—North of railroad bridge, Tiverton, and a line connecting Bristol Ferry and Muscle Shoal Light. V. Hast Passage.—South of Providence and Mount Hope Bay divisions and north of a line from Beaver Tail to Brenton’s Point. VI. Sakonnet River—The Sakonnet River south of railroad bridge to line connecting Flint Point and the breakwater. VII. Off Shore.—Traps south of above divisions and not including Block Island. VIII. Block Island. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 23 / o = 1 8, z | 5: 3 2 = OE 4 ¢ = 30 Od 3 Solbs ao as 2 = : YEAR. ‘C5 EE + ER Se ee: 7 < 3 BR E z 3 3 af 4° E Z e g z 1898.. a 6 26 9 34 15 ZO [end at 119 1899.. 3 10 23 11 35 15 DAr hie 3 121 1900.. 4 16") -24 16 34 12 Pee eae 135 TOOT... 7 15 24 13 52 | 14 DO eae 151 1902... 6 22 27 13 52 14 PAM SA eve 161 1903... 7 21 32 13 72 16 OR hao eae 195 1904... 6 27 33 7 78 i 14 49 6 220 1905... 6 26 33 1 SP ia) BO |e 6 (ReaD 1905. Off-Shore Traps. MGT SERS SD CS ee ee ee South Cormorant Rock. Panera (UOT) ek ness: «oS eaewe oe ale wis. Seal Ledge. LCLTELLSCTTESCPO G0 0 eee Below Bull Rock. erie Vay he cos clas. fe Paes de as Below Cormorant Co. EeePC 7d ek le as eee ee et as Lower Pier. RG MBeMO Nl AMC rc ia cll els nae aac de. .North Pomt Judith: Peewee ATES fc S.aeae batt ra AN es 8S. Coggeshall’s Ledge. rommenersames! (OO): - 25 dottgn c's o-r6e'e oo dca os Halfway Rock. tern tmbamen CCL seth c: tte Metis cos Ohta Nie, a of spouting Rock. OTe ELRy ales aS SSS oO ae it te en nn Lower Pier. JUL 4k, A aa ol Pe in Cece South Lower Pier. DEGREE DR Soe is) < Be gales, Av oe Oke Ls eos * Coggeshall’s Ledge. ULE 4s Sa eee e Coggeshall’s Ledge. COON oe Ls Cormorant Rock. Opmaer ry ten sue ra st dss .-s,.North Sakonnet Light. Diesen eee MOM aaa yay oka oe Foie Spates © 8% Price’s Neck. UVP itora e150 OR ewe i ee Coggeshall’s Ledge. Fisheries Company (00000000)....................Sakonnet Light. *The ciphers indleate the number of traps set in line on one string of leaders. 24 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. CET, ord LE re a a cn RR RE Narrow River. Grea! le Lice ES ei arene area ane ames id Pane eg Sakonnet Light. ie OUeit) 2/2 Fg 0 6 Lae Ae rae een ae Se South Breakwater. Lc Gloire) BRS lead Re rr ee Sakonnet Point. Macomber & Simmons (00).............. Below Coggeshall’s Ledge. eeovadence Bishi OO... 2.0 sccp bese cin be Ses South Cormorant Rock. Provadence ish (OO) 210.2 fe ey . bs sere wie West Sakonnet Light.. TPO Ea Dat), SRS Ee cote ed Se ee Below Cormorant Rock. Theta, TRB et to ee West Cormorant Rock. ease eo Anti: eo fk oa Aa South Cormorant Rock. Riese, (Creve (010) Aenea North Sakonnet River. Sakonnet CISTERN Say a Below Cormorant Rock. SAO TDIN De \ OMUS 12) oll O70 eas ant ae eS Sn 7: . .Seal Rock. SeiommeriOvaber OO. (00). wc dene e's 6 + + cle wl Below Seal Rock. SpIUGDOTL, do 2S See eee ae South Cormorant Rock. TB, 5 at teal A aR ee West Price’s Neck SME eee on citnd seiioer ts el. ete Breakwater Wy L085 LEDR (CLO) eas cs aa a a East Cormorant Rock. UN TUG, 1B Ls ite i ag ala A South Cormorant Rock. GSO SS, LE leetot ed a i Ps South Warren’s Point. Other Traps. PAMGeRSONE O. Bos... eile eek ee ee le oe ORCI T OMIM eanes JEG (BIS ORR ENS er Coddington Cove. emo CLD) ae i re North Prudence Park. Peat Ge ne red nhs tess «ie ar. x 3 = eee Pine Hill Point. SURMMIPIREET GCOTEE.. 5 oie iis ce ee ee ies os South Ferry. CoreyerHid: (00000)... .2.2..... Lower West Shore, Sakonnet River. (Comer. Bid 22 2S eA yr 6 Church’s Cove. Corre viarnin (OO) Saw... sa. te. es teenie High Hill Point. Corer Martin (O000) is ess. ee North Brown’s Point. Coreraocmveamiim (OO). e2)e degts lena seep etenek De The Hummocks. Es meenammene 5. ha0k of. whole ln ays crank g eee reeeae eee Sandy Point. TeeyriennOMeRs i /5.:.04 . se Seg Lal oa. os wea: RS Noe OM EL Sandy Point. Mey ROBIE SS ¢ 52% sony We Pea are oI re ede Fowler Rocks. Menem alll (OOO) ¢!.e2s.4-c.ceis.sct le ed werner cee South Fogland Point. evar be(Q0).... 00sec es vee eee North Brown’s Point. ILGKELES MGT SUMING 1 Se Rice nM So WEE UO fA Buttonwoods. Ngemermmoses .... 1 (4% odotht (eek had Ne ate Chepiwanoxet. Min emerInpCleT « ::.r:.5 sire) Gh ape OPS glameeee pe alee oie VErre oles Buttonwoods. Miieiemmeeneber. oo. 2d oe eee eis OCs Rebs eRe. «i Buttonwoods. Meamenmecter A. (00) 23 dcesescdcoetincacrcy ae ia set oe South Sandy Point. MamenesnervA. (O00) 25.444 ee a5 ass as rare North Sandy Point. Vie SRT AU)... is Sie BAe Pane oe eee pace cio Ree ne TE Quonset Point. INERGMESSRETAOID:. .... .. .)0cc, cin peeeelGy a gcercninl ed aaa eras Vial’s Creek: Walhestannpmeres cies... ss oie eet ane plete a's ele Ghelemeenenin oe enn Fox Hill. Waist) 6 5 a etme hepeltarerey Set heme tt Conanicut. AVEC nes PT MOO). 5... wien aoe ene) wanlinneh ps aleier she North Prudence Park. Mirelae tipeiirrmenie s,s a+ oie chelate RRR ee SEE South Pojac Point. Meous Eropmersae coe o's p+ ocx palace pata oe North Mount Hope Point. Nor Php UME OMe eet eo ese PREP Oere Seree Austin’s Hollow. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Th Pane LE Lai Crawl! Ld! Oise cnc ee tee nes Wood’s Castle. SSS RISING coo). ace eo Warwick Neck. Prese)-GCOTHE. .. A:cyaenes oe etl Upper East Shore, Sakonnet River. Prose, George: Sea ate. iain Upper East Shore, Sakonnet River. Beane, ‘(reGhie meme es fx hunt 6 ae ep ieee North Breakwater. Rose, GeOnse aie solos iinet, 1. Orth Mount Hope: Point: FRC apres PAT ia 5oc28) sins) hermetaal ate saramole North Mount Hope Point. RUG ARO Fite i ietsscrshorona: Upper East Shore, Sakonnet River. 2055 Jt 0. ge ree Pareto: 6b, AN eee eee eee South Stone Bridge. Nese 01: pe Pee oe ka Upper East Shore, Sakonnet River. EUG REL aL (OE BES eee Ps eres cca dtere eis ot North Sapowet Point. LEST STS Ry WN ee ea ae eae i ae South Sapowet Point. JU GEE yrs 27 (CN S00) aia oe South Sapowet Point. SPEND) oot ee A ee ve oo Mere es: North Point. DV ETLERT EIS RNC SS a a) Pe Poplar Point. oo SSCS ita he Oa Rc ee er South Greenwich Bay. Bre STO GHELS Ba 21. eon fo w cyerams dccchen Shoe. S. E. Point, Prudence. sida Uke e (ye) 08) sia) ea a a a S. W. Point, Prudence. Siltvt BIS h70\ dots) 2s eae Oe a rn cr East Shore, Conanicut. Seitetl eTOMETS ey ae A) Arter S ck. viens hea East Shore, Conanicut. SI HAA a] Ua ie aie ea Se) alee a lg a Fox Island. peters Wises! Sim aE abe eek Ks nd Dutch Island Harbor. S/SHNEL 2, go (RAD OC ogee a se Fox Hill, North. ETRE Rou 2 NRO eRe ACM oe ne North Tiverton. pamenanin an ew hs Fy een tos Sa La ee ee Corey Wharf. MUIR Beha cl oa es Ghent Reka chiens ats hese be South Black Point. ai Grate Se eee Oe A Peds es ...Flint Point. ES UUGISIS GA ase a coca ae Warwick Point. MIME EG eh od ashe coalesce es ....Austin’s Hollow. gb vig he Si) he VAG OEE OA ee ee Beaver Head. A Guraces Pee em es ia hte es eae ee South Saunderstown. Baila.) EI) (UG Ys sao merce Sa ei as South High Hill Point. ESET Tee 2 oo South High Hill Point. Weileemeatts 306-5.) .:. rae i nS Se Church’s Cove. 28 Wilcox, Wilson, Wilson, Wilson, Wilson, Wilson, Wilson, Wilson, Wilson, Wilson, REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. ERB fh ee one Lower East Shore, Sakonnet River. UNA aaa Mea Gans ee 2 Pojac Point. Ps idles. an we cae PEACE eo ioe s ene ane Buttonwoods. WY 25 (OO) ratidthee Pane NEC ech et eae Fogland Point. NV AOD) eaten Serer mm tiae. 2 chs. 4, ait High Hill Point. Wis CUO) WA penne rire cer A le ete Sandy Point. Wit (OOGOEE tee ct oe eo teen ee oe North Black Point. Wie h(QOD) cmt ereane weer ES oe South Sandy Point. Nees Sai EA or a reise ire iin we ak ite eee Sandy Point. Veena RAD oid eh See a South High Hill Point. "p ysnany ‘Te Ane ‘9a Ane Te Ane ‘gt Alne “Tr Ajne ‘9 Aine ‘T Aine ‘9g oune “1g vung "9I oun SHA 22 SAE RVR ER” Je one e Sa Sa ae Sees Sat fa ee ee a PTT rt a eer REE et tt rt fb meter fF BRR SERERE “Skee HM es Ne RGB RDS SS BS _ Bee See Aes tt ttt RL get EE BEE CCE CCS EE ECE EEE EER EERE Ree == — Se eee eee —— eee ERS BRORSa —_=SeREEoe TERESA REESS 2 as Beoad 2 SER ees SERREESeS GERBRAREESS Sealine aunliny 4a8 65 Cuarr I1].—Showing the maximum and minimum air temperature at the Wickford Laboratory of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries from!June 16 to August 1, 1905. 7 Feiss! PS ey eek Has Fy) he el} > Bet bowie oy Maas eT «i. Fue = TRA: ii re. Cree eR es: B ‘ ve Caen Put Shore eth mt Ye Taira My y i NOB. bi st 7 fy Th ae pe 4 ba] si 7. ne ci * : bee Mi Bad Poaba.” ah mS * g nes Sey i er i a tos Beh fi saw RSGK AGE GBM Trti tet iis ae 1 wae a we te) ot # a se &z SeeSeeae ce enee SEREAEE™ AUR eRe BSEACRe ARSATReS "a PTL itt eb tt) Be SRRERUERERERE=--~RERRe. TERERS NES Aes a8 SSSR5"- ~~. 02 SRSURRSRESED SURRRRRS EES ryt bee i tti titi ii tit iss pes Tir BCE eee eet ee eee SQRRERRERTES DA SRAREY OHS Eo ce EREN ER HER -SURSRER> GRRE fated imped 43 22R8 i 2 eS RSSSARKRAK LA “oe a a OP SEGRBRSR” <5 Eu pa mpi hy be oO eRe ee EE ACMARERRSESD. Ve BE et ee et SS aeeeae a mae fe HE He Ep REP RATES SALAL SAAR LaRA .EVHRESS CREAR SESE TEAR RARSAVETER SARA ES oe tpt tb ttt bar RSeeceneeee eRe MEREERKLEHSCE LESS SSRN S hebechadaphedeniaslastendasmalanbeshnladied SM I deparaA of 8 on timott eeiedatt Hass] to nolazimmoy bialal ober Sito winljioded bicliotW adi 12 ewwdemaqaied tie muminin bos muetizan odd auiwodAd— 1 raaand es 65° 60° 35° 50° 40° 35° 30° January 1-7 February 5-11. March 12-18. April 16-22. July 30-August 5. September 8-9. October 8-14. a janet 12-18 December 17-23. sussuuuuseeseeususassaesssseeuaeeeeeusu0u00s002 Sen sousasscessassssvosrasszsarsesraesapersseraersseeasreee “ro (is) 7o° 60° 55° 40° 35° 30° F. Cuart 1Y.—Showing the average temperature of the sea-water at the Wickford Laboratory of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries for each week in 1905. at qinte $o-40j2 7° Sas 4nasawane i a Wwowewens ede te he ge a a te Sok rose netaeceeti cocker iPFMmeprrtrerirrprers | £A3 SRP RBARSRKIURMPANT ARS SSAMMOVSHS Sg Se GRRL S Ben: BABEL SARGMERBAR FEU RUREaBARA ob ep pdt n PRGRESSSRARAEBVAN RATE j ARS SCRRABASGLUSL VEST Pe 2 gpa a a Bx TRAE ‘ees aa Be ee a. wa 7a & a rt SAB Rn OS A PH JSUtSeSUARGSageeN) UuaauuseeauuEnn RE aean Jey SEUSUGacaaUeeRseece YoguRaRGascKeun ess G0) SSGRGSURSRAnGaGS S455 \nCeaseeeen demas sca itt fh ZEBRRERA ae 2B O'S ] GRSaeaasquns eeaasaaen cus BB ewR Es maeaunny 2 ee eH B.)" VERSE SONY Ses wpe td PtH et SEER HAK AH Sa cectes BBABASRH! VALVE ALM MARRS SUSUAReH2NSSSCNERSENEGL SANGaY Su Ne seAme FA AN ALR GE SREIBAS NS GVIAM KNOL C VME MPeEreete eer ore ee eee RSM AHRID SARS BAMA pt bt tee BSBA ArR mete | ape ty 22auaa Saueepusunccauaas aoe Ed ‘z SABA AAA IL aS AP TasUsaAWaRs nuasaee SHSLRAAREASGHATIRF HAO RED aan tate SsesasOueNe see aaasameue ewe ° seesspastsigasestastarsestan weareaaeass BSREHE ZULKAAE SAN KMS ORANG 2 BOOKS es MRABABK SAHTARSRALRRRRSSASARHR Seas vinnie anata ib Lp tb SAQKhUUMTMERKS mito he i ed i Ee ee Tee aan Si'sweusnegen RAKL Ss SERAAA VE RSSAKNAORARS =as om = HeeeeeeeeTReeC eee eroeed pda ic viotstodal bioldoiW off ts wtew-nee OG Wa dintdinantss Sgawrs of} aalvrodk- Soet ut dsow sloge 10% aohyedald baalat Yo moles fugiel shoda CO6I ‘18 A[ne 01 § oUNL WO.s soangvasdute} A[Lep WNMLUIM pus TUNUIIXBU OY) pus ‘COE, ‘LZ OUNL OJ [ ABM WO; sopoysly PUv[U] JO UOISSIMIMIOD pURIS]T 9poqy 94} JO A1OJVIOGVT PAOJHOLM OY} 4B JO}VA-BaS 944 JO oinye1oduIe4 A[Iep UvoM O44 SuIMOYS—'*A LUVHO + ta J 8 n B el a a a a a B a a g B a 3 a a a 5 i a J J a fa @ ® & a a a a a ® a a Sesee “HAR Ees MeREBAREKSe: US Saute aneeseases te ; ‘he sie 4 : x ret 2 - - Ee 2. hae * a 9 : aE 3 ¥ ARS * 5 E : we z a a) . & ae 4 ee teeta « ¥ Pet Ree PURTRAAe EGA ow BSS me Eee i aw an Quis eee as Ss x7 ; Se OD 3 a2 eras wet é a i ; a i EP AeA SRS ante 1 a> #2eap Saar sane, ab het Sane ; — Pre ee ie auee- secs RRese aneue es ” eit aS re it aa er Srasane : =e ou Raney rae f <=, , : ea aee wear . ra = Pusha PEGAY Da eR eS RS : : Oar 4) ‘ie Wise & . ey, Re 4 & “ o bo bar 1 8 a 3 ca s = 2 = = = = 3 = b b> b b> b Gy & a & a a a 7 a a an) 4 ee hs ae ie = = om 1022.0 1022.0 1021.5 1021.5 1021.0 1021.0 1020.5 FY 1020.5 1020.0 H4 1020.0 Cuart VI.—Showing the specific gravity of the sea-water at the Wickford Laboratory of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries from March 27 to May 20, 1905. Tem] © _ 3 - Fy aS = 2 3 > & > > > & > Ep 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 =} 3 3 5 ” a) i) i) a) i) ir) Lr) i) 5 < x PEE EEE LEE 1022.0 TT | a Pe --- 1022.0 1021.5 1021.5 1021.0 1021.0 1020.5 44 1020.5 aS a 1020.0 aaenite 1020.0 1019.5 1019.5 1019.0 1019.0 1016.5 1018.5 aan 1015.0 Cuart VII.—Showing the specific gravity of the sea-water at the Wickford Laboratory of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries from June 18 to August 8, 1905, LE UGG oiaeigit s a ech } | TT aeeeeeenes a Pie + PREZ PEPE siSnesaa cufsitetes TH ie Scots: eevee HA peat sufesseonsestecrs 5 Bs gesarwenc. venue “£4 sfefries Srrinneescsss iit 2 oeseze ginceranparvesenias SE Heer SS ewes ah cnueeanaan es reoueaasesteetiatasttottes eae eneeeepeaseaaaieceaeaaers Oe ehrectes’ Gna seeteeecusuceesceceecpsazc | ope Secpouaaeceonnes seeesnaceeciene EEE ‘ yint oe SENareicecascisazg ptt z eae : J tae . | beret] $l. gink a oe 2 a scare meee ae ram. } ppt ded to AQ tink FESS ER Eouenaase SSReRBuR ES OS Tek % lavgud od 8! enh mow ff eu HORE AF Velé of % dorwM wont welrensi't hesiel to potesinnes baelel 4 Aa t\-4 abea” maeet r0dal fxoblolW snd te vetaw-eex ods to yiirexe oBfoeqa orld gabeod®— ITV raam) . Het yiots & dorguA ent ts KX phot a:i3 to Wotstudad Lyotare odd te Talaveaer odd 49 Ubverg ofiveqa od! gaiwodeh-—1V tHaan a ; bods REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 29 IV. Tue ContTiINuED EXAMINATION OF THE PHYSICAL AND Bto- LOGICAL CONDITIONS OF THE WATERS OF THE Bay, Brecun IN 1898. The following charts represent the observations made during the past year of the air and water temperature and the water density. Some of them cover only the months during which the lobster hatching was going on, while the observations of water temperature extend over the entire year. (Charts III, IV, V, VI and VII.) As a beginning of the report of the examination of the biological condition of the Bay, two lists are appended, one of the shell-fish or mollusea which have been found in the Bay, and the other of the fishes which occur in Rhode Island waters. The lists have been prepared by collecting all authentic observa- tions found in the literature and adding to these all data in the hands of the Commission. The list of mollusca was prepared by Mr. E. W. Barnes and the list of fishes by Mr. H. C. Tracy. To the list of fishes is added a short illustrated description of the Herring Family, a group of fishes in which there exists considerable confusion as regards the names in use by fishermen. A PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE MARINE MOLLUSCA OF RHODE ISLAND. BY ERNEST W. BARNES, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT AT THE WICKFORD LABORATORY. I. CEPHALOPODA. DIBRANCHIATA. DECAPODA. Spirula peronii, Lamarck. Loligo pealli, LeSueur. Omnastrephes illecebrosa, LeSueur. Il. GASTEROPODA. PULMONATA: BASOMMATOPHORA. Alexia myosotis, Draper. Melampus bidentatus, Say. OPISTHOBRANCHIATA. NUDIBRANCHIATA. Aeolis papillosa, Lovén. Dendronotus arborescens, Ald. & Hancock. Doto coronota, Lovén. Polycera lessonii, D’Orbigny. Tergipes despectus, Adams. TECTIBRANCHIATA. Cylichna alba, Brown. Cylichna oryza, Totten. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Tornatella puncto-striata, Adams. Diaphana debilis, Gould. Uriculus canaliculatus, Say. PROSOBRANCHIATA. RACHIGLOSSA. Turbinellide. Fulgur carica, Gmelin. Sycotypus canaliculatus, Linneus. Turbinella elegans, Verrill. Turbinella interrupta, Adams. Buccinide. Sipho stimpsonii, Mérch. Sipho pygmaeus, Gould. Astyris rosacea, H. & A. Adams. Neptunea curta, Verrill. Nasside. Phrontis vibex, Say. Tritia trivittata, Say. Ilyanassa obsoleta, Say. Columbellide. Anachis avara, Say. Anachis diaphana, Verrill. Anachis pura, Verrill.. Anachis rosacea, Gould. Columbella lunata, Say. Columbella dissimilis, Stimpson. Muricide. EKupleura caudata, Say. Urosalpinx cinera, Say. Purpura lapillus, Linneeus. TAENIOGLOSSA. Cerithiide. Triforis nigrocinctus, Adams. 3l By) REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Bittium nigrum, Stimpson. Bittium greenii, Adams. Cerithiopsis terebralis, Adams. Cerithiopsis emersonii, Adams. Littorinide. Lacuna divaricata, Fabricius. Littorina irrorata, Say. Littorina littorea, Linnaeus. Littorina palliata, Say. Littorina tenebrosa, Mont. Vermetide. Vermetus radicula, Stimpson. Cecide. Coecum cooperi, Smith. Coecum pulchellum, Stimpson. Rissoide. Littorinella aculeus, Gould. Littorinella exarata, Stimpson. Littorinella minuta, Totten. Hydrobude. Amnicola limosa, Say. Skeneide. Skenea planorbis, Fabicius. Carpulide. Crepidula convexa, Say. Crepidula fornicata, Say. Crepidula, plana, Say. Crucibulum striata, Say. Naticide. Lunatia heros, Say. Lunatia triserrata, Say. Natica pusilla, Say. Neverita duplicata, Say. Mamma immaculata, Totten. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. PTENOGLOSSA. Scalariide. Sealaria lineata, Say. Sealaria groenlandica, Chemnitz. Sealaria multistriata, Say. lanthinide. Janthina fragilis, Deshayes. GYMNOGLOSSA. Pyramidellide. Odostomia bisuturalis, Say. Odostomia dealbata, Stimpson. Odostomia fusca, Adams. Odostomia seminuda, Adams. Odostomia trifida, Totten. Odostomia producta, Adams. RHIPHIDOGLOSSA. Frochide. Margarita helicina, Fabricius. Margarita obscura, Couthouy. DocoGuLossa. Acmeide. Acmea testudinalis, Muller. III. SCAPHOPODA. IV. PELECYPODA. EULAMELLIBRANCHIATA. ANATINACEA. Anatinide. Anatina papyracea, Say. Cochlodesma leana, Conrad. 5 34 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Thracia conradi, Couthouy. Thracia truncata, Mighels & Adams. Pandoride. Clidiophora trilineata, Say. Lyonsiide. Lyonsia hyalina, Conrad. PHOLADACEA. Pholadide. Pholas costata, Linnzeus. Pholas truncata, Say. Zirphea crispata, Linneus. Teredinide. Teredo navalis, Linneus. MYACEA. Myide. Corbula contracta, Say. Mya arenaria, Linneus. Glycimeride. Saxicava rugosa, Linnzus. Solenide. Siliqua costata, Say. Solecurtus gibbus, Spengl. Ensatella americana, Gould. Solen viridis, Say Psammobiide. Macoma sabulosa, Morch. Macoma fusca, Say. CARDIACEA. Cardide. Cardium pinnulatum, Conrad. Leevicardium mortonii, Conrad. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. VENERACEA. Veneride. Cytherea matracea, Linsley. Venus mercenaria, Linnzus. Callista sayii, Conrad. Tottenia gemma, Totten. Callista convexa, Adams. Turtonia minuta, Stimpson. Petricolide. Petricola pholadiformis, Lamarck. TELLINACEA. Tellinide. Angulus tenera, Say. Tellina tenta, Say. Mactride. Mactra solidissima, Chemnitz. Mulinea lateralis, Say. Ceronia arctata, Conrad. SUBMYTILACEA. Astartide. Astarte castanea, Say. Astarte quadrans, Gould. Astarte undata, Gould. Cyrenide. Cyclas dentata, Wood. Carditide. Clyclocardia borealis, Conrad. Cyprinide. Cyprina islandica, Linneeus. Erycinide. Kellia panulata, Stimpson. Lepton fabagella, Conrad. 35 36 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Lucinide. Lucina filosa, Stimpson. Cryptodon gouldi, Adams. Cryptodon obsesus, Verrill. PSEUDOLAMELLIBRANCHIATA. Ostreide. Ostrea borealis, Lamarck. Ostrea virginica, Lamarck. Pectinide. Pecten irradians, Lamarck. Pecten tenuicostatus, Mighels & Adams. FILIBRANCHIATA. ARCACEA. Arcade. Argina pexata, Say. Scapharca transversa, Say. MYTILACEA. Mytilide. Crenella grandula, Totten. Modiola hamatus, Say. Modiola modolius, Linnzeus. Modiola plicatula, Linnzeus. Mytilus edulis, Linnzeus. Modiolaria discors, Linnzus. ANOMIACEA. Anomiide. Anomia aculeata, Gmelin. Anomia glabra, Verrill. PROTOBRANCHIATA. Nuculide. Nucula delphinodonta, Mighels. Nucula proxima, Say. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Leda tenuisuleata, Stimpson. Yoldia obesa, Stimpson. Yoldia limatula, Say. Yoldia sapotila, Gould. Solenomyide. Solenomya borealis, Totten. Solenomya velum, Say. V. AMPHINEURA. CHITONES REGULARES. Ischnoidea. Chastopleura apiculatus, Say. Trachydermon ruber, Lowe. 37 A LIST OF THE FISHES OF RHODE ISLAND. b PLATES I ro XII. BY, THENEY: (C. TRACY, A. Mi. BROWN UNIVERSITY, PROVIDENCE, R. I. In the vear 1898 the Commission of Inland Fisheries began a “svstematic examination of the physical and biological conditions of Narragansett Bay.’’ The importance of the study of the fish fauna, as a part of this investigation, is obvious from a practical as well as from a scientific point of view. Such a knowledge of the fishes of Rhode Island waters as would be given by a thorough investigation of their distribution, times of occurrence, food, diseases, enemies, etc., would furnish a body of facts in themselves of very great value to the scientist, to the sportsman, and to the man prac- tically interested in the commercial aspect of the fisheries; and, furthermore, it is only by the possession of such facts that important problems regarding the life history and life conditions of any species can be solved. Since the biological study of Rhode Island waters was begun, numerous isolated facts regarding the fishes of these waters have come into the possession of the Commission, some of which have been included from time to time in its annual reports. But the only systematic contribution to this investigation which has been published heretofore is the “List of Fishes of Narragansett Bay,” by Dr. H. C. Bumpus, which was contained in the report of the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries for 1900. This was a bare list of fishes, as the title indicates, with no notes or information regarding REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 39 any of the species included. The report for 1901 contained a further contribution to this subject, under the title “ Additions to the List of Fishes Known to Inhabit Narragansett Bay, with Remarks on Rare Species Recently Caught.” It is the purpose of this present paper to complete and extend as far as possible the list of fishes above referred to, and also to include under the name of each species in the list such notes as will contain whatever information is in the possession of the Commission regarding its abundance, time of occurrence, habits, etc. It seems best to bring these notes together at this time as a matter of per- manent record, although they are necessarily of a fragmentary and incomplete nature. They are intended rather as a basis of investiga- tion which may result in a future comprehensive paper than as any important contribution to our knowledge of the fishes mentioned. The original list was intended to contain only those fishes which were known to inhabit Narragansett Bay. But it is impossible to adequately understand the life history of many of our important food fishes, most of which are pelagic and migratory in their habits during a considerable portion of their existence, unless the fish fauna of the open water is included in our investigation. Further- more, the offshore fisheries between Newport and Sakonnet and those of Block Island are of great importance to the citizens of Rhode Island; and the rich variety of rare species already known to have been taken in those waters is of great scientific interest. For these reasons it has seemed best to extend the list so as to include every fish which has been known to be present in the waters of Rhode Island, using that term broadly to include, besides Narragan- sett Bay, the fresh water streams of the state, and the open waters of the ocean bordering on the southern shores of the state and of Block Island. The material used in the preparation of this list has been derived from the following sources: 1. The “List of Fishes in Narragansett Bay,” by Dr. H. C. Bumpus, referred to above. 40 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 2. Data gradually acquired by the Fish Commission in years past. 3. Data furnished by Mr. E. W. Barnes, of Wickford, R. I., Superintendent of the Experiment Station. The data secured by Mr. Barnes has been very valuable, especially that portion of it relating to the more important food fishes. 4. Statements regarding time of occurrence, abundance, etc., of various fishes, made by fishermen and others practically interested. I am under special obligations to the Lewis Brothers, of Wickford, for information of this kind and for other favors, for which I here make acknowledgment. 5. Collections made at various times in the past, particularly by the late Prof. J. W. P. Jenks, and by Mr. J. M. K. Southwick, of Newport, Vice-president of the Commission. 6. Collections and personal observations made by the writer, chiefly during the year 1905. Visits were made to the fish-traps with the fishermen at various times throughout the season; at each haul specimens were taken, and records were made of the date, species present, abundance, size, and any other data which seemed desirable. The seine was also used in securing the young of many fishes and the smaller shore fishes. I should add, further, that in several cases references of the isolated occurrence of certain rare species in Rhode Island waters have been found in various works on ichthyology or in special papers. I have made use of these sources also, as a matter of record, giving the proper reference under each particular species. The material for the notes on the food of the various species, in addition to data obtained by personal observation, has been taken from a variety of sources. The observations on the stomach contents of fishes made by Dr. Edwin Linton, and published in the Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission for the year 1899, have been largely used. It has seemed scarcely necessary to give authorities for statements as to the food of the different fishes in cases in which there is general agreement. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 41 The experiences of the past suggest the following as profitable lines of future work: 1. Frequent and systematic visits to the traps with the fishermen. A great variety of information can be obtained in this way which it is difficult to secure otherwise. It is possible by this means to get almost any kind of data desired, on such points as the distribution of the fishes, their times of arrival and departure, abundance, sizes, food, spawning, enemies, etc. Reference to the list of fish-traps and their locations, contained in this report, shows that 240 traps are in operation in Rhode Island waters, and that they are scattered all the way from Point Judith to Providence River, from. Providence River to Newport, out in the open water from Brenton’s Reef to Sakonnet Point, up and down Sakonnet River, and off the exposed shore of Block Island. These traps, being scattered over such a distance, where the conditions are so very different, afford a most excellent opportunity of obtaining very reliable data by systemati- cally following trap fishing in a few chosen typical localities. 2. Young fishes should be carefully studied. Very little work has been done in this line anywhere. Narragansett Bay, which is a favorite spawning eround of so many fishes, affords a great oppor- tunity for original work in this line. The discovery of means of identification of young fishes of different species is a great desidera- tum. 3. The different sizes of fishes caught in the traps at different times should be accurately ascertained and compared. This will throw light on such questions as the rate of growth, the age of sexually mature individuals, the movements of schools, etc. 4. Study of the parasites of the fishes. These may frequently furnish clues to their migrations. 5. Study of the diseases of the fishes by microscopical and bacterio- logical examination of pathological specimens. 6. Careful observations of the condition of the reproductive organs of the fishes at different times to determine their breeding season. 6 42 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS QF INLAND FISHERIES. 7. Examination of the stomach contents of the fishes to determine their food. 8. Use of the tow-net and dredge in the spring and early summer jor the securing of spawn. The location of favorite spawning grounds and means of identifying the spawn of different species are important points to be ascertained. 9. Study of the fresh-water fishes. 10. The special study of the fishes of Block Island. This island is located so near the boundaries between the northern and southern division of the Atlantic coast fauna, and is so near deep water that it undoubtedly has a fauna of great richness and variety. There is every reason to suppose that it is as favorably situated in these respects as Wood’s Hole, where about 250 different species of fishes are recorded. Fishermen say that frequently in these offshore ‘waters they take fish which are new to them, and that they see even whole schools of unfamiliar species. Above are indicated some of the lines of work which will be followed in the future as far as time and circumstances allow.* A collection of fishes is also being made which is intended to con- tain, eventually, a specimen of every species known to inhabit Rhode Island waters.t A proper record of the results of future study and observation has been provided for in the form of a card catalogue of the species of fishes. This form of record admits of indefinite expansion and modification for the accommodation of new material, and makes it possible to have all the known data regarding any particular species readily accessible at a moment’s notice. An appendix to the list of fishes is given which contains the names of certain species, most of which were taken by the United *Any information regarding any phase of this subject, whatever, will be gladly received from any one interested. Any facts relating to the time and places of spawning of different fishes, and their movements and migrations, are particularly desired. +Fresh or preserved specimens of rare and unusual fishes will be gratefully received from fishermen or others. They should be sent to the R. I, Fish Commission at Brown University, Providence. Record of the date and place of capture should be sent at the same time. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 43 States Fish Commission while investigating the extent of the tilefish grounds. These grounds include an area between 69° and 73° west longitude and 40° 20’ and 39° 47’ north latitude, and are situated on the edge of the Gulf Stream, directly to the south of the Rhode Island coast. A complete discussion of the tilefish, which is the most important of the fishes taken in that region, will be found in the R. I. Fish Commission reports for 1899 and 1900, and in the Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission for 1898, page 321. If any apology is necessary for mentioning the fishes taken in waters at such a distance from Rhode Island, it may be said that a knowledge of the fish fauna of the Gulf Stream at that particular point helps to explain the occurrence of so great a number of tropical species in our coast waters, and also that, if the tilefish should become of any commercial importance, the location of the area in which it is taken is such that it would be more readily accessible to the Rhode Island fishermen than to those of any other state. With a few exceptions, the species mentioned in this appendix are surface forms. A com- plete enumeration of the deep-water fishes of this region would unduly extend the list by the inclusion of a large number of forms which have a closer relation to the deep-sea fauna than to the fauna of Rhode Island. Following the list of fishes is a short article on “The Common * This has been added in the hope Fishes of the Herring Family.’ that it may aid in clearing up the confusion prevalent in this locality regarding the identity of some of the species of that family. Plates have been inserted to supplement the descriptions of the fishes mentioned. ' In order to make the identification of certain forms easier, plates are presented to show a few of our occasional visitors from southern waters, and also to illustrate the two species of the sturgeons which are common in the waters of Rhode Island. These plates have been reproduced from Goode’s “‘ Natural History of Aquatic Animals,” ex- cept Plate VI, which was taken from Jordan’s “‘ Guide to the Study of Fishes.’’ 44 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. J. Awnnotatep List or Fishes Known TO INHABIT THE WATERS OF RHODE ISLAND. In the following list there are arranged in systematic order, by families, all species of fishes known to have been found in the waters of Rhode Island. In nomenclature and sequence of species, “The Fishes of North America,’ Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 47, by Jordan and Evermann, has been followed. The fishes enumerated represent 84 families, 149 genera, and 177 species. Of these about 30 are important food fishes; about 65 may be said to be rare, as far as the present records go; of these latter about 25 have been taken but once, as farasis known. The type specimens of 6, or perhaps of 7, species were taken in Rhode Island waters. PETROMYZONID. The Lampreys. 1. Petromyzon marinus (Linneus). Great Sea Lamprey ; Lamprey Eel. GeEoG. Dist.: Atlantic coast of Europe and America, south to Chesapeake Bay. Migrations: Ascends fresh water streams in spring to spawn. Season in R.I.: Rare, sometimes caught in traps in Narragansett Bay, a few in Taunton River in spring. De Kay in 1842 described specimens from Providence. (De Kay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 1842, 381.) REPRODUCTION: Spawns in fresh water in spring, dying after the process. (Jordan, Guide to the Study of Fishes. I. 498.) Foop: Parasitic on other fishes. GALEID4. The Requiem Sharks. 2. Mustelus canis (Mitchill). Smooth Dogfish; Swilchtail. Geroa. Disr.: Cape Cod to Cuba, southern Europe. Season iv R. L.: May to November. Foop: Crabs usually, also lobsters, squids, annelids and fishes. S1zE: Small specimens one foot long caught August 23, 1905; this size is com- mon the remainder of the season. 3. 4. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 45 Carcharhinus obseurus (Le Sueur). Dusky Shark; Shovel-nose. Geoa. Dist.: The middle Atlantic. Season In R.I.: Very common from May to November in outside waters, and occasionally in Narragansett Bay. Hapirat: Surface of the open water. Foop: Fishes. Stomach contents have shown skates, squeteague, young mackerel, menhaden. Size: Eight to 14 feet. Carcharhinus milberti (Muller & Henle). Blue Shark. GeEoG. Dist.: Cape Cod to Florida. DeKay describes a specimen 7 feet, 4 inches long, weighing 160 pounds, taken at Brenton’s Reef September, 1842. (DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 1842, 354.) Foop: Fishes. SPHYRNID®. The Hammer-Headed Sharks. Sphyrna zygzena (Linneus) Hammer-head. GroG. Dist.: All warm seas. From Cape Cod and Pt. Conception south- ward. Season IN R.I.: Not common but occasionally occurring from June to Oc- tober. In 1905 a specimen taken August 2, and another reported about two weeks later. Foop: Fishes, especially menhaden; squids. Size: Average 4 feet, the largest reaching 7 and 8 feet; the smallest 14 feet. ALOPID. The Thresher Sharks. Alopias vulpes (Gmelin). Swing-tail; Whip-tail; Thresher. Grog. Dist.: Abounds in all warm seas, especially in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Frequent on Pacific coast. Season in R. L.: Rare in Narragansett Bay, but the most common shark in outside waters, especially after the scup season. It is a great nuisance to fishermen. Foop: Fishes, which the animal is said to kill by blows of its long flexible tail. Size: Sometimes as large as 300 pounds. 46 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. CARCHARID. The Sand Sharks. 7. Carcharias littoralis (Mitchill). Sand Shark. Groag. Dist.: Atlantic coast, Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. Season In R. I.: From May to November it is common, but is less so than the dogfish. Foop: Fishes, such as flatfish, menhaden, squeteague, butterfish, scup. Also crabs and squids. S1zE: Average 44 to 5 feet long, largest 12 feet long. LAMNID®. The Mackerel Sharks. 8. Isurus dekayi (Gill). Mackerel Shark. Goa. Dist.: Cape Cod to West Indies. Season IN R.I.: Said to be more common of late years, but not abundant. Rare in Narragansett Bay. Foop: Small fishes, squids, mackerel, conger eel. Size: They average 4 or 5 feet, the largest 10 feet, weighing up to 400 pounds- 9. Lamna cornubica (Gmelin). Blue Shark; Mackerel Shark. Groc. Dist.: Newfoundland to West Indies. Common on Massachusetts coast during mackerel season. Season In R. I.: Said by the fishermen to be more common than the mackerel shark (Isurus dekayi), but this species is probably confused with others. Foop: Small fishes, especially mackerel. Squids. Size: Ten feet. SQUALID. The Dog-Fishes. 10. Squalus acanthias (Linneus). Dogfish; Spiny Dogfish. ' Geog. Dist.: Atlantic south to Cuba and from the North Cape to the Medi- terranean. Mierations: Probably moves northward in spring a little after the mackerel, returning from September to November. Season In R. L.: The last of April or first of May to November. Rare in the Bay, but so common outside as to be a nuisance to the fishermen. Follows the schools of seup in spring. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 47 Hapirat: Open water, following schools of pelagic fishes. ReEprRopucTION: Viviparous. Foop: Fishes, especially herring, mackerel, and scup. Also crustacea and jelly fishes. Size: Two to 3 feet. RAJID. The Skates. 11. Raja erinacea (Mitchill). Summer Skate; Old Maid. Groc. Dist.: Virginia to Maine. Season 1n R. I.: Very abundant everywhere from May to November. ReEpRopucTION: Eggs common in August and September. Foop: Usually crustacea and annelids, but bivalve molluses, squids, and small fishes are frequently found in the stomach. Size: Average 1 to 2 feet. One young specimen, 2 inches long, taken in trap in the Bay, October 9, 1905. 12. Raja ocellata (Mitchill). Big Skate; Winter Skate. Geoc. Dist.: Atlantic coast northward from New York. Season In R.I.: Veryrare in summer. Scattering specimens taken in the Bay in the fall. Foop: Squids, annelids, crustacea. Size: Average, 3 feet. 13. Raja lzevis (Mitchill). Barndoor Skate. Grog. Dist.: New England to Florida. Season IN R. I.: Rare in summer when it is probably in deep water, but common in spring and from August to October. ReEpropuctTion: Eggs found occasionally in September. Foop: Crustacea. Lobsters have frequently been found in their stomachs. Size: Four feet. NARCOBATIDE. The Electric Rays. 14, Tetranarce occidentalis (Storer). Torpedo; Crampfish. Grog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Cuba. Season 1n R. J.: Caught off Sakonnet not uncommonly in midsummer, where it has become rather common in the last four or five years. They run through July and August, coming one or two at a time. 48 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Foop: Fishes. The walls of the alimentary canal in this fish are very thick and possess great digestive power. Size: Two to 5 feet long. Maximum weight 300 pounds; average, 150 pounds; small ones infrequent. DASYATIDA. The Sting Rays. 15. Dasyatis centrura (Mitchill). Sting Ray. Grog. Dist.: Coast of Maine to Cape Hatteras. Season in R. I.: Said to have been very common. formerly and as large as a foot thick, but are small and few at the present time. Most abundant the last part of July and through August and September. Foop: Large species of invertebrates such as crabs, squid, clams, sea snails. Sometimes small fishes and annelids. Size: Reaches a length of 10 or 12 feet. 16. Dasyatis hastata (Dekay). Groa. Dist.: West Indies north to Rhode Island. The type specimen originally described by DeKay in 1842 was a female cap- tured in September off the Rhode Island coast. (DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 1842, 373.) 17. Pteroplatea maclura (LeSueur). Butterfly Ray; Angel-fish. Grog. Dist.: Wood’s Hole to Brazil. Season In R. I.: Rare. The type specimen of this species described by LeSueur was taken in 1817. (LeSueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1817, 41.) In July, 1900, a specimen 23 inches long was taken in the southern part of Narragansett Bay by the Lewis Brothers of Wickford. Foop: Fishes, shrimp, lamellibranchs, annelids. MYLIOBATID. The Eagle Rays. 18. Myliobatis freminvillei (LeSueur). Sharp-headed Ray; Sting Ray. Groc. Dist.: Cape Cod to Brazil. SEASON IN R.I.: Not very common. The original type specimen described by LeSueur was taken in 1824 from Rhode Island. (LeSueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., IV, 1824.) DeKay mentions specimens from Rhode Island. (DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 1842, 376.) Mr. John O. Lewis of Wickford says several have been taken in traps near Saunders- town, Narragansett Bay. Foop: Chiefly molluses, which they crush with their large grinding teeth. ‘| FLVv1g (Mna4sorAaciq Iasuadioy) NOGSYALG AIsON-LUOHY an, ‘(OLInjs JesuedlDVy) NODTNUNLG NOWWOD AH, REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 49 19. Rhinoptera bonasus (Mitchill). Cow-nosed Ray; Sting Ray. Groa. Dist.: Cape Cod to Florida. Season IN R. J.: Animmense school of these fishes once seen off Block Island by Capt. Mason, of Tiverton. Said to have.been more common formerly. ReEpropuctTion: Viviparous, breeding season lasting over five or six months. Foop: Chiefly molluscs; also crustacea, crabs, and lobsters. ACIPENSERID. The Sturgeons. 20. Acipenser sturio (Linnzus). Sturgeon. (Plate I.) Groc. Disr.: Ascends rivers of Atlantic coasts of Europe and America. Season In R.I.: Rather common in traps off Sakonnet from May to Novem- ber. Said to have been more common formerly; 20 years ago 5 or 6 were caught in traps at a time. Rare in the upper part of Narragansett Bay. One caught off Quonset, June, 1905. Common at Block Island. The young are said to be common in Taunton river. ReEpropuction: Ascends rivers to spawn in spring and summer. Foop: Molluscs and crustacea, which it obtains by grubbing in the mud. Size: Five to 12 feet, weighing 50 to 300 pounds. 21. Acipenser brevirostrum (LeSueur). Short-nosed Sturgeon. (Plate I.) Groa. Dist.: Cape Cod to Florida. Season in R. I.: Occurs in company with the common sturgeon but is said by the fishermen to be more numerous. SILURID. The Cat-Fishes. 22. Felichthys felis (Linnzus). Sea Catfish; Gaff-topsail Catfish. Groc. Dist.: Cape Cod to Texas. Season In R. I.: Specimen taken at Brenton’s Reef lightship September 16, 1898. 23. Galeichthys milberti (Cuvier). Sea Catfish. Groc. Dist.: Cape Cod to Texas. 24. Ameiurus nebulosus (LeSueur). Horned Pout; Bullhead. Groc. Dist.: Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, to Maine, Florida and Texas. Hapirat: Fresh water ponds and streams. Size: Up to 18 inches. ‘ 50 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. CATOSTOMID®. The Suckers. 25. Catostomus commersonii (Lacépéde). Common Sucker; Brook Sucker. GroG. Dist.: Quebec and the Great Lakes to Montana, Colorado, Missouri, and Georgia. Hapitat: Fresh water streams and ponds. 26. Erimyzon suceta (Lacépéde). Chub Sucker. GroG. Dist.: Great Lakes and Mississippi Valley, eastward. Hasirar: Very abundant in lakes and lowland streams. SizE: About 10 inches. CYPRINID. The Carps. 27. Abramis crysoleucas (Mitchill). Golden Shiner; Roach; Dace. Groa. Disr.: Nova Scotia and Maryland to Dakota and Texas. Hasirat: Fresh water. Sluggish fish, frequenting ponds and cutoffs, preferring those where the bottom is covered with aquatic plants. 28. Notropis cornutus (Mitchill). Shiner; Red-jin. Groc. Dist.: Entire region east of Rocky Mountains, except the South Atlantic States and Texas. Hapirat: Small streams. Size: Five to 8 inches. 29. Rhinichthys atronasus (Mitchill). Black-nosed Dace. Groce. Dist.: New England to Minnesota, Northern Alabama, and Virginia. Hapirat: Freshwater. Abundant in clear brooks and mountain streams. ANGUILLID. The True Eels. 30. Anguilla chrysypa (Rafinesque). el. Groc. Dist.: Maine to Mexico. Ascends rivers east of Rockies and south of Canada. Micrations: Adults move from fresh water into salt in the autumn to spawn. The young move from salt water into fresh in spring. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. on SEAson IN R. J.: Abundant throughout the year, but are most numerous in the autumn when the females are descending the rivers. About April 15, 1905, the eels in Greenwich Bay, R. I., for a period of about three weeks, died in great numbers. They rose to the surface of the water, swam slowly around until dead; they floated up in immense numbers on the surface and drifted on the shores. Repropuction: Breeding takes place in winter time in salt water. The females with mature ovaries are taken through the ice. Foop: The eel is an excellent scavenger, eating all kinds of dead animal matter. It also feeds on small fishes, shrimp, crabs, molluses, worms, ete. Size: Four or 5 feet. Young taken when ice breaks up in the spring 1 to 14 inches long. Prof. Jenks found specimens 2} inches long on April 19th. LEPTOCEPHALID®. The Conger Eels. 31. Leptocephalus conger (Linnzus). Cenger Eel. Groa. Dist.: Cosmopolitan, except not found in eastern Pacific. MiaraTions: Moves into deep water for spawning; does not run into fresh water. Season In R. J.: Scattering specimens in spring and summer, common from August to November. In the U. 8S. Museum are casts of 2 specimens taken at Block Island by the U. 8. Fish Commission, September 26, 1874. One of these weighed 11 pounds. Hapitat: Salt and brackish water. Repropuction: ‘Takes place in the depths of the ocean. Foop: Fishes, snails, shrimp, worms. Size: Average, 4 to 6 feet. Smallest observed at Woods Hole are 15 to 20 inches long. ELOPID. The Tarpons. 32. Tarpon atlanticus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Tarpon. GroGc. Dist.: Cape Cod to Brazil. Season in R.I.: Rare. Stragglers are reported by fishermen. Specimen taken in August, 1874, at Newport by Mr. Samuel Powell (Photograph No. 398 in U. S. Nat. Mus.) Mr. J. M. K. Knowles, of Wake- field, is authority for the statement that a tarpon 5 feet long and weighing 30 pounds was taken near Dutch Island Harbor, Narragansett Bay, in 1900. a2 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Hasirat: Tropical waters; ascends streams in pursuit of small fry. Repropuction: Does not breed north of Cuba. Foop: Schools of small fry. S1zE: Six feet; weighs sometimes 150 pounds. 33. Elops saurus (Linneus). Ten-pounder; Big-eyed Herring. (Plate II.) Groa. Dist.: Tropical seas to Carolina, straying north to Cape Cod. Season in R. I: So rare that it is not usually recognized by fishermen. Specimen 14 inches long, taken in trap at Dutch Island Harbor, Narragan- sett Bay, October 29, 1905. Hapirat: Open seas. Foop: Shrimp. Size: Three feet. ALBULIDA. The Lady-Fishes. 34. Albula vulpes (Linnzus). Lady-fish. GroG. Dist.: Tropical seas on sandy coasts, north to Woods Hole. ' Specimens are reported by fishermen. A specimen from Newport is in the U.S. National Museum. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 107.) CLUPEID®. The Herrings.* 35. Etrumeus sadina (Mitchill). Round Herring. Grog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Gulf of Mexico, on sandy shores; not rare south- ward. Specimen in U. S. National Museum taken at Newport by Mr. Samuel Powell. (Bull, U. S. Nat. Mus., 1879, 59.) 36. Clupea harengus (Linnezus). Sea Herring; Herring; Blue Back. (PlateVII.) Groc. Disr.: North Atlantic ocean, Europe and America. South to Cape Hatteras, but not abundant south of Cape Cod. Season in R.I.: Winter herring arrive in October or November and remain until very cold weather. The spring run arrives in May, and the fishes of that run are larger and more numerous. Young specimens, 2 inches long, taken June 6, 1893. (Prof. Jenks.) Hasitat: Surface of open water. * Plates illustrating the common species of this family will be found at the end of the arti- cle on ‘‘The Common Fishes of the Herring Family.’”’ Page 102. } eae es a THE TEN PouNDER (Elops saurus). PuaTE II. ws f OCC; 7 ta, 7, ¢ | OF ; BON Ai 13 = ne as rl ie) Pr 7 Mi ae i =e. * < % REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 03 REPRODUCTION: Some schools spawn in the spring and others in the autumn, The fall schools spawn to west of Bay of Fundy; spring schools to the east of that point. Spawning takes place in Penobscot Bay, September and October; at Wood Island after middle of September; along the coast of Massachusetts about October 1; at No Man’s Land, for 3 or 4 weeks beginning October 15; at Block Island, November. Spawning takes place at a temperature between 47° and 57°F, in the open coast waters not deeper than 30 fathoms. (H. F. Moore, Report U.S. Fish Commission, 1896, 40.) Foop: Microscopic animal life. 37. Pomolobus medioecris (Mitchill). Hickory Shad. (Plate VIII.) Geog. Disr.: Florida to Bay of Fundy. Srason IN R.J.: Probably arrives in the spring, but specimens are common from August 1 to November. Repropuction: The location of the breeding grounds is uncertain. Some authorities say that it does not ascend rivers to spawn; other claim that it spawns in fresh water under same conditions as shad. Foop.: Small fishes, crustacea, squids. Size: Maximum, 24 inches. 38. Pomolobus pseudoharengus (Wilson). Alewife; Branch Herring; River Herring; Buckie. (Plate IX.) Groc. Disr.: Atlantic coast of the United States. Mierations: Arrives off Virginia and Maryland about March 1. Said to arrive at Cape Cod about April 1, a month before the scup. Season In R.1.: This is one of the first fish to arrive in the spring, the traps at that time sometimes being full of them. Comes in March, running up into fresh water through March, April, and the first of May. After that, in May and June, a few spent stragglers are taken on their way back to salt water. The dates of their arrival in Taunton River, kept by Mr. Elisha Slade, from 1871 to 1883, show that their earliest appearance during that time was February 28, 1880, and the latest March 28, 1875. Repropuction: During March and April in fresh water. Foop: Minute free-swimming crustacea. Sometimes young squids and small shrimp. Size: One-half pound. The young, hatched from the eggs in the spring, become 2 or 3 inches long before winter. & 54 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 39. Pomolobus zestivalis (Mitchill). Glut Herring; Blackback. (Plate X.) Groc. Dist.: Coast waters United States north to Maine. Miecrations: Similar to the alewife (P. pseudoharengus), except that it appears later and remains in fresh water for a shorter time. Season in R.I.: It appears from two weeks to a month later than the ale- wife. REPRODUCTION: Similar to the alewife, but about two weeks later; the spawning grounds are probably confined to brackish water in ponds, and in large streams not far above tide water. Foop: Free-swimming crustacea. 40. Alosa sapidissima (Wilson). Shad. (Plate XI.) Grog. Disr.: From Alabama along the whole Atlantic coast. Introduced by the U. 8. Fish Commission into rivers of Pacifie coast. MiGcrations: Probably lives in deep water in winter or near Gulf Stream, coming into shore waters when the temperature reaches 60°F., running up rivers tospawn. When this process is completed they probably return to salt water. The young, when hatched, remain in rivers till autumn, then move into salt water. SEASON IN R.I.: Arrives last of March and runs for about 6 weeks. A large specimen taken August 3, 1905, at Rumstick Point. Specimen 3 inches long, taken October 29, 1905, at Dutch Island Harbor; this was probably hatched from spawn of the previous spring, and was then on its way to salt water. Dates of arrival in Taunton River from 1871 to 1883 range from March 10 in 1880 to April 5 in 1883. REPRODUCTION: Spawning takes place in fresh water in April and May. Foop: Like the other members of this family, its chief food supply consists of minute free-swimming crustacea. Size: Maximum, 24 feet. It reaches its full size in four years. 41. Opisthonema oglinum (LeSueur). Thread Herring. Grog. Dist.: West Indian fauna, straying north to Cape Cod. The type specimen described in 1817 by LeSueur was taken at Newport. (Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., I, 1817, 359.) In the U. S. National Museum is a specimen taken at Newport by the U.S. Fish Commission. (Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1879, 60.) A few have been taken very rarely since. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 55 42. Brevoortia tyrannus (Latrobe). Menhaden; Pogy; Bony Fish. (Plate XII.) Groce. Dist.: Nova Scotia to Brazil. Mierations: The migrations of the menhaden are largely determined directly by the water temperature; they enter the coast waters in the spring when the average harbor temperature reaches about 50°F, and leave in the autumn when the temperature falls below that point. The approximate times of the arrival of the first schools is given as fol- lows by G. Brown Goode: Chesapeake Bay, March and April; New Jersey, April and early May; south coast of New England, late April and May; Cape Ann, middle of May; Gulf of Maine, last of May and June. They leave the Maine coast in September and October; Massachusetts, in October, November, and December; Long Island Sound, November and December; Chesapeake Bay, December; Cape Hatteras, January; further south they remain throughout the year. It will be seen that they arrive somewhat later than the shad and alewife, about the same time as scup, and in advance of the squeteague and bluefish,“and remain longer in the autumn than any of these, except possibly the two last-named species. This order of appearance is what would naturally be expected in view of the fact that the squeteague and bluefish are both carnivorous and feed largely upon the schools of the menhaden. Season in R.I.: They appear last of April or first of May and are present throughout the summer and fall. Most abundant in May when first arriv- ing and in October when the falling temperature is driving them away from northern shores. They finally leave in November and December. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in December, probably, and in May and June; the location of the spawning grounds is at present uncertain. Foop: The whole food supply of this fish is obtajned by filtering out from the surface stratum of water the organic life there suspended. The ar- rangement of the gill rakers forms a very effective filter of the water which the fish takes in by swimming actively in circles through the water with widely opened mouth and expanded gillcovers. The stomach gener- ally appears comparatively empty, but usually has a small quantity of what appears to be a dark greenish or brownish mud, with a variable quantity of copepods and small crustacea intermixed. This may be de- monstrated by observing the habits of the living fish, by the study of the gill rakers, and by collecting on a filter the organic matter suspended in a given quantity of surface water and by comparing the matter thus fil- tered out with the stomach contents of the menhaden. The following 56 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. animals have been found: a few small annelids, a few rotifers, the smaller crustacea, like Gammarus and young shrimp, Zoea larva, Nauplius larva, copepods. But the great majority of organisms were Glenodinium, Peridinium, Infusoria and unicellular plants like diatoms, algal swarm spores, bacterial masses. (On the Food of the Menhaden, by J. H. Peck, Ph. D., Bull. U. 8. Fish Commission, 1893. 113.) SizE: Schools arriving at New England in midsummer from 2 to 5 inches long are hatched from the spawning of the previous fall and spring. The 7 to 10-inch fishes are 2 years old; the 12 to 14-inch size, 3 years old; adults are the large fish 15 to 18 inches. ENGRAULIDID. The Anchovies. 43. Stolephorus brownii (Gmelin). Striped Anchovy; Anchovy. Groc. Dist.: Cape Cod to Brazil. Abundant southward. Season IN R. I.: Specimen 14 inch long, dredged by the Fish Hawk in Narragansett Bay, November, 1898. Larger than 8. mitchilli, but not so common. Foop: Annelids, copepods, sometimes univalve molluscs, foramenifera. Size: Four to 6 inches. 44, Stolephorus mitchilli (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Anchovy. Grog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Texas. Season IN R. I.: Common in late summer. Forms an important part of the so-called ‘‘ white bait.” Hasirat: Sandy shores, entering rivers. Size: Two and a half inches. SALMONIDA®. The Salmon Family. 45. Salmo salar (Linneus). Salmon. Gnoc. Dist.: North Atlantic, ascending rivers between Cape Cod and Hudson Bay. Formerly south to Hudson River. Season 1n R. I.: Small fish, weighing 2 to 3 pounds, have been taken in Sakonnet River in the spring. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. a4 46. Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill). Brovk Trout; Speckled Trout. Groa. Dist.: East of the Mississippi, Savannah to Labrador. Season In R. J.: Common in fresh-water streams. In fall, where communi- cation exists, enters salt water, remaining there through the winter. Hapsitat: Clear, swift, cold, fresh-water streams. ARGENTINIDA. The Smelts. 47. Osmerus mordax (Mitchill). Smelt. Groa. Dist.: The Atlantic coast, Virginia to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Season IN R. I.: Common from October to May. Caught in large numbers in Narrow River, but not as important commercially here as further north, especially in Maine and New Brunswick. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in February and March. Foop: Shrimp and other small crustacea. Size: Maximum, 14 inches. SYNODONTIDE. The Lizard-Fishes. 48. Synodus foetens (Linneus). Lizard-fish. Grog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Brazil, common from South Carolina southward. LUCIIDA. The Pikes. 49. Lucius americanus (Gmelin). Banded Pickerel. Groc. Dist.: Massachusetts to Florida, east of the Allegheny Mountains. Hasirat: Fresh water, in lowland streams and swamps. PQCILUDA. The Killifishes. 50. Fundulus majalis (Walbaum). Mayjish; Killifish. Grog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Florida. Season IN R. I.: Common through the summer from April and May until late in the fall. Hasrirat: Along shores, especially sandy beaches. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in June and July. Foop: Small crustacea, especially shrimp and copepods; molluses and annelids. Size: Four to 6 inches. 8 58 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 51. Fundulus heteroclitus (Linneus). Mummichog; Common Killifish. Geog. Dist.: From Maine to the Rio Grande. Season IN R. I.: Most abundant of the mummichogs, and very common at all seasons. Hapirat: Shores and brackish waters, in eelgrass and on muddy bottoms, especially at the mouth of fresh-water streams. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in June and July. Foop: Shrimp and other small crustacea. Stomach is sometimes filled with a green mud consisting of vegetable debris, diatoms, and foraminifera. 51a. Fundulus heteroclitus macrolepidotus (Walbaum). This is a variety of the preceding. Very common everywhere in brackish waters from Maine to Virginia. Specimens from Newport described by LeSueur. (Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., I, 1817, 133.) 52. Fundulus diaphanus (LeSueur). Spring Minnow; Killifish. Grog. Dist.: From Maine to Cape Hatteras. Season IN R. I.: Found throughout the year, but not so common as the other species of this family. Hasirat: Around shores fed directly by fresh-water streams. ESOCIDA. The Needle-Fishes and Garfishes. 53. Tylosurus marinus (Walbaum). Garfish; Billfish. Grog. Dist.: From Cape Cod to Texas. Common from June to October. Season IN R. 1.:. July 20, 1905, young specimens 3 inches long were taken from the seine at Cold Spring Beach, Wickford. August 28, 1905, several large ones were taken at the same place. Repropuction: Breeds in fresh water. Foop: Fishes, especially small silversides; crustacea, shrimp, amphipods; annelids. SizE: Three or 4 feet. The young, 3 to 8 inches long, taken along shores in Summer. HEMIRAMPHID®. The Halfbeaks. 54. Hyporhamphus roberti (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Haljbeak; Skipper. Grog. Dist.: Coasts of America on sandy shores. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 59 SEASON IN R. J.: Rather common in summer and early fall. The first specimen from Rhode Island was taken by Samuel Powell at Newport and described by Gill in 1862. Hasirat: Sandy shores. Foop: Almost exclusively alge. 55. Euleptorhamphus velox (Poey). Grog. Dist.: West Indies, occasionally northward in the Gulf Stream to Massachusetts. Rare. Specimen in the U. S. National Museum, taken at Newport by Mr. Brown. (Bull. U. 8S. Nat. Museum., 1879, 55.) SCOMBERESOCID. The Sauries. 56. Scomberesox saurus (Walbaum). Saury; Billfish. Grog. Dist.: Common in schools in open seas north of Cape Cod and of France. Season In R.J.: Very rare. One specimen is in possession of the Commis- sion, presented by Mr. J. M. K. Southwick, of Newport, and dated 1899. EXOCCTID®. The Flying-Fishes. 57. Parexocoetus mesogaster (Bloch). Groa. Dist.: Tropical seas, common in the East Indies and West Indies, and in the Hawaiian Islands. North in the Gulf Stream to Newport. A specimen 54 inches long, from Newport, is in the Museum of the Academy of National Sciences at Philadelphia. (Jordan and Meek, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885, 47.) 58. Exocoetus volitans (Linneus). Black-winged Flying-fish. Groc. Dist.: Open seas, north to the Grand Banks, southern Europe and Hawaiian Islands. Specimen in U. 8. National Museum, taken at Block Island by the U.S. Fish Commission, August, 1874 59. Cypsilurus fureatus (Mitchill). Grog. Dist.: Common in warm seas, north to Cape Cod and Mediterranean. 60 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Two specimens from Newport, one 54 inches, the other 6 inches in length, are in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885, 61.) These are apparently the specimens described by Jordan and Evermann, in ‘The Fishes of North America.” 60. Cypsilurus gibbifrons (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Two specimens only are known; one, the type specimen in the Museum d’Histoire Naturelle at Paris, the other, a young specimen 8 inches long, taken by Mr. Samuel Powell at Newport, R. I., and described by Jordan in 1886. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1886, 528.) GASTEROSTEIDE. The Sticklebacks. 61. Gasterosteus bispinosus (Walbaum). Two-spined Stickleback. Grog. Dist.: From Labrador to New Jersey. Season In R.I.: Very common at all seasons. Repropuction: During July and August it spawns in nests guarded by the male. 62. Apeltes quadracus (Mitchill). Fowr-spined Stickleback. Groa. Dist.: From Maine to New Jersey. Season IN R. I.: Common at all seasons. Foop: Copepods. FISTULARIID. The Cornet-Fishes. 63. Fistularia tabacaria (Linneus). Trumpet-fish. Groce. Dist.: West Indies north to Woods Hole. SYNGNATHID®. The Pipe-Fishes. 64. Siphostoma fuscum (Storer). Pipe-fish. Groc. Dist.: The Atlantic coast of the United States, Cape Ann to Virginia. Srason IN R. I.: Common throughout the summer in the eelgrass along the shores and in salt ponds. Two specimens were taken in offshore waters in purse seines with menhaden in July, 1904. REPRODUCTION: Females with eggs and young were taken in Narragansett Bay March 22,1897. (Dr. H. C. Bumpus, Science, 1898, 485.) Foop: Small crustacea, amphipods and copepods. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 61 65. Hippocampus hudsonius (DeKay). Sea-horse. Groa. Distr.: Atlantic coast, Cape Cod to Charleston, S. C. Srason 1N R. I.: Not common. Rarely found floating in gulfweed and rockweed. ATHERINID. The Silversides. 66. Menidia gracilis (Gunther). Silverside. Grog. Dist.: Woods Hole to Albemarle Sound, common in brackish waters. Season in R.I.: Very common through summer. 67. Menidia menidia notata (Mitchill). Stlverside; Brit. Groc. Dist.: Atlantic coast northward, south to Florida. Season IN R. I.: Very abundant everywhere from April to December, especially along sandy shores, where bushels of them can be taken in the seine almost unmixed with other fish. Used to a great extent as bait for eel pots. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in June and early July. Foop: Small crustacea, shrimp, univalve molluses, and sometimes vegetable material and diatoms. Size: Five inches. MUGILID. The Mullets. 68. Mugil cephalus (Linneus). Striped Mullet; Jumping Mullet. Groa. Dist.: Atlantic coast, Cape Cod to Brazil. Pacific coast, Monterey to Chili. Season 1N R. I.: October and November. This species, in company with the white mullet, is sometimes very abundant. In the middle of October, 1904, 500 barrels were taken at one haul off Newport. A specimen from Newport is in the U. S. National Museum. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 120.) Foop: Stomach contents show a greenish mud containing large numbers of diatoms, green algz, copepods. 69. Mugil curema (Cuvier & Valenciennes). White Mullet; Jumping Mullet. Groa. Dist.: Cape Cod to Brazil, Magdalena Bay to Chili. Season In R.I.: Same as the preceding species. Foop: Same as the preceding. Size: About 5 inches. 62 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. SPHYRAENID. The Barracudas. 70. Sphyrzena guachancho (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Barracuda. Grog. Dist.: West Indies to Pensacola, straying north to Woods Hole. SEAson IN R.I.: Rare. A young specimen, 8 inches long, taken in seine at Willow Beach, near Wickford, on July 17, 1905. AMMODYTID®. The Sand Launces. 71. Ammodytes americanus (DeKay). Sand Launce; Lant; Sand Eel. Grog. Dist.: Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. Season 1N R.I.: Said to appear at all seasons; sometimes in summer is so abundant as to fill the traps. Foop: Worms and small fry. This species is important as the food of cod, halibut, and mackerel. Size: Largest grow to 16 inches, but are generally much smaller, seldom over 5 or 6 inches. HOLOCENTRID®. The Squirrel-Fishes. 72. Holocentrus ascensionis (Osbeck). Squwirrel-fish. Groa. Dist.: West Indies about rocks and reefs; accidental on the coast. This species has been taken at Newport. (Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1879, 44.) SCOMBRID. The Mackerels. 73. Scomber scombrus (Linnzus). Common Mackerel. Groac. Dist.: North Atlantic, abundant on both coasts. North to Norway and Labrador, south to Spain and Cape Hatteras. Miarations: Appear in the spring when the water reaches 45° F. At sea, off Cape Hatteras, March 20 to April 25; Norfolk, March 2 to April 30; the Capes of Delaware, April 15 to May 1; Barnegat and Sandy Hook, May 5 to May 25; appear at the same date along the whole coast of New Eng- land and Nova Scotia; Gulf of St. Lawrence, May and early June. These are probably coastwise movements for the most part, as they can be followed by the fishing boats from southern waters to the north. On their return they probably head out into deep water. In 1898 they appeared at Sakonnet, Chatham, Mass., and Yarmouth, N. 8., on the same day, May 3. In 1901 they reached Chatham on April 29, and the next day were taken at Cuttyhunk and Menemsha Bight. NN ES REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 63 Season In R. I.: Usually arrive at Rhode Island about May 1. In 1905 they first appeared in Sakonnet River on April 28. The first catch was on May 2 in the scup traps off Sakonnet. June 3 they appeared off the Cape Cod shore. June 5 at Newport marked the beginning of the big run of the season, which culminated June 19. The season closed there June 28. On June 22 was the best catch off Block Island. Scattering fishes are present all summer. On September 6 and 7, 1905, there was a very big run of ‘‘tinkers”’ at Newport, the harbor being full of them. A similar run usually occurs about this time, though it was exceptionally large this year. Mackerel finally leave in November. February 1, 1906, a single specimen taken in a tide-water pond, Sakonnet River. REPRODUCTION: Spawns the middle of May and June, in deep water along the coast from Long Island to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Foop: The mackerel strains the sea-water through its gill rakers as it swims open-mouthed through the water, taking in all kinds of small crustacea and the larve of marine invertebrates. They also feed on young fishes, especially in the latter part of the summer when these are abundant. Size: Reach a length of 2 inches in 30 days from hatching, 4 inches in 45 days, 7 inches before the autumn migration. The ‘‘blinks”’ are 2 years old, the ‘‘tinkers”’ 3 years, and the adult size of 17 or 18 inches is reached in the fourth year. (Report U.S. Fish Com., 1879, 32.) 74. Scomber colias (Gmelin). Chub Mackerel; Bull’s-eye Mackerel. Grog. Disr.: Atlantic and Pacific, widely distributed, north to England, Maine, and San Francisco. Appears irregularly on our Atlantic coast. Season IN R. I.: This species must be present in Rhode Island waters, though beyond vague reports of fishermen, no definite data are available. Dr. Seth E. Meek describes a peculiar fish taken at Block Island, September 16, year not given, which was supposed to be a hybrid between this species and the common mackerel. (Jordan and Evermann, ‘‘ The Fishes of North America, 866.) 75. Auxis thazard (Lacépéde). Frigate Mackerel; Bonito; Tunny. Grog. Disr.: All warm seas, wandering northward to Cape Cod. SEASONINR.I.: This species has been abundant in some years, but is usually rare or absent. On August 23, 1880, 28 barrels were taken in a mackerel seine ten miles east of Block Island. Immense schools were reported that year between Montauk Point and George’s Banks. (Proce. U. 8. Nat. Mus., 1880.) One was reported taken at the mouth of Narragansett Bay in the autumn of 1904. 64 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 76. Thunnus thynnus (Linnzus). Horse-Mackerel; Tunny. 77. Groa. Dist.: Pelagic on all warm coasts. North to England, Newfound- land, San Francisco, and Japan. Season IN R. I.: Plentiful some years; rare others. Taken in autumn around Newport and Narragansett Pier, but more abundantly at Point Judith. More rare formerly, but of late becoming more common. Forty to 60 have been taken in one trap at one time. Present in Rhode Island waters from June to November, but most numerous in July. Mr. Brownell of Tiverton says that, in the autumn of 1904, he ran through an immense school of this species, extending for 10 miles. Foop: Menhaden chiefly. (Goode.) Size: The largest ever taken weighed 1,500 pounds; the largest on record from Rhode Island, caught by Mr. Brownell, weighed 750 pounds. Sarda sarda (Bloch). Bonito. Groa. Dist.: Atlantic Ocean of both coasts, north to Cape Cod. SEAson IN R.I.: Seen occasionally in the autumn. It is not distinguished by the fishermen from other species of this family. Hapirat: The open ocean, approaching shores for food and spawning. Foop: Stomach contents have shown fishes, squids, small crustacea. Size: Maximum, 23 feet. 78. Scomberomorus maculatus (Mitchill). Spanish Mackerel. Groa. Dist.: Both coasts of North America; appears in irregular schools in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Carolina coast. Ranges north to Cape Ann and south to Brazil. Season IN R. I.: Not very common. A few dozen specimens taken this season (1905) between the middle of August and October, in Narragansett Bay. Fifty large ones taken in a trap by Mr. Easterbrook at Price’s Neck, Newport, August 15, 1905. Foop: Fishes, squids, and crustacea. 79. Scomberomorus regalis (Bloch). Cereen; Kingfish. Groa. Dist.: Cape Cod to Brazil, abundant at Cuba. Season In R.J.: Rare in Narragansett Bay, taken usually in the autumn. Foop: Small fishes. Size: Maximum, 5 to 6 feet REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 65 TRICHIURID®. The Cutlas-Fishes. 80. Trichiurus lepturus (Linnzus). Cutlas-fish; Scabbard-fish. Grog. Dist.: Warm seas, chiefly of western Atlantic; north to Cape Cod. SEASONINR.I.: A few stragglers taken nearly every year. Specimen taken by Mr. J. M. K. Southwick, Newport, November 16, 1899. Specimen 3 feet 8 inches long caught in a trap at Newport, 1901. This is the largest specimen recorded from New England waters. Several smaller specimens taken in the Bay the same year. Several specimens have been taken by the Lewis Brothers in their traps in Narragansett Bay at various times. ISTIOPHORID. The Sail-Fishes. 81. Tetrapturus imperator (Bloch & Schneider). Spearfish. Groa. Dist.: West Indies north to Cape Cod. Season INR.I.: Very rare. XIPHIIDA. The Sword-Fishes. 82. Xiphias gladius (Linneus). Swordfish. Groac. Dist.: Atlantic Ocean on both coasts, most abundant between Cuba and Cape Breton. Common off Cape Cod and Newfoundland Banks. Common off Southern Europe and found in the Pacific. SreasoninR.I.: In 1905 they began to reach George’s Banks about June 16. Twenty-two were taken in one day, 61 ina week. Began to reach Block Island June 26, when 13 were taken. One seen off Sakonnet Point July 18. Leave Rhode Island waters in September. Abundant in 1905, and extremely so in 1904. Foop: Contents of the stomach show fishes like cod, hake, and squids. CARANGID®. The Pompanos, Amber-Fishes, ete. 83. Oligoplites saurus (Bloch & Schneider). Leather-jacket. Grog. Dist.: Both coasts of tropical America, common in West Indies, north to Woods Hole. Season in R.I.: Very rare. Only one specimen is on record from Rhode Island waters; taken September 10, 1886, at Newport. 9 66 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 84. Naucrates ductor (Linnzus). Pilot-fish. Groc. Dist.: Pelagic fish found in all warm seas. Occasional on our Atlan- tic coast from West Indies to Cape Cod. Season 1n R.I.: Occasionally taken from July to October. 85. Seriola zonata (Mitchill). Rudder-fish; Pilot-fish; Shark-pilot. Groc. Dist.: Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. Season In R.I.: Single specimens occasionally taken from July to October. A specimen in possession of the Commission is dated 1899. Three speci- mens from Newport are in the U.S. National Museum. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 91.) Foop: Stomach of one individual contained fragments of a butter fish. 86. Seriola lalandi (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Amber-fish. GroGc. Dist.: Brazil to Cape Cod. SEasoNINR.I.: Rare. Taken in traps occasionally during summer months. 87. Decapterus punctatus (Agassiz). Scad; Round Robin; Cigar-fish. Grog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Brazil. 88. Decapterus macarellus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Mackerel Scad. Groc. Dist.: Warm parts of Atlantic north to Cape Cod. Season in R. I.: Occasional in October. Prof. Jenks is authority for the statement that none are ever taken over 6 inches long. Specimen in the U.S. National Museum, taken at Newport by Mr. Samuel Powell. (Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1879, 42.) Foop: Copepods and annelids. 89. Trachurus trachurus (Linnzus). Saurel; Gascon. Groc. Dist.: North Atlantic, chiefly on coast of Europe, south to Spain and Naples. Taken also at Newport; Pensacola; Cape San Lucas. Only 4 American specimens are known. Srason IN R. I.: Goode describes specimens from Newport. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1882. 269.) 90. Trachurops crumenophthalmus (Bloch). Big-eyed Scad; Goggler. Groce. Dist.: Both coasts of tropical America, north to Cape Cod. THE PuG-Nosep SHINER (Vomer setipennis). PLATE ITI. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 67 Season 1n R. I.: Common in October and November. (Prof. Jenks.) Specimen from Newport in the U. 8. National Museum. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 84.) Foop: . Annelids. 91. Caranx hippos (Linneus). Crevallé; Jack. Groac. Dist.: Warm seas, both coasts of tropical America, north to Gulf of California and Cape Cod, also found in East Indies. Season InN R. I.: Occasionally taken from July to December. Specimen from Newport in U.S. National Museum. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 90.) Foop: Fishes and crustacea. Size: Largest are 2 feet long. Young 1 inch long are taken at Woods Hole about July 1st. 92. Caranx crysos (Mitchill). Hardtail; Yellow Crevalle. GroG. Dist.: Cape Cod to Brazil. Season IN R. I.: Not uncommon from August 1 to November. Most of those caught in traps are small, about 8 to 10 inches long, but one very large specimen, about 18 inches long, taken in trap near Saunderstown, Narragansett Bay, August 10, 1905. Specimen from Newport in the U. S. National Museum. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 90.) Foop: Crustacea. 93. Alectis ciliaris (Bloch). Cobbler-fish; Threadfish. Groc. Dist.: Tropical America on both coasts, ranging north to Cape Cod. Season IN R.I.: Rare. From June to November. The Commission is in possession of a specimen 34 inches long from Newport. Specimens from Newport are in the U.S. National Museum. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 90.) 94. Vomer setipinnis (Mitchill). .Pug-nosed Shiner; Dollar-fish. (Plate III.) Grog. Disr.: Tropical America, both coasts. Common south, young occurring north in Gulf Stream. Sgason 1n R. I.: Not common. Adults very rare. Occasional specimens in August, September, and October. The first recorded of this species from Rhode Island was a young specimen described by Cope in 1870. (Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. Phila. 1870, 119.) Specimens from Newport are in the U. S. National Museum. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 89.) 68 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. An adult specimen taken in Narragansett Bay at Newport by Mr. J. M. K. Southwick in 1899. Young specimens taken August 23 and October 9, 1905. 95. Selene vomer (Linnzus). Lookdown; Dollar-fish. Grog. Dist.: Tropical seas. Foop: Small crustacea. Shrimp, gasteropods, lamellibranchs. 96. Trachinotus faleatus (Linneus). Round Pompano. Grog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Brazil. 97. Trachinotus carolinus (Linneus). Common Pompano. Groa. Dist.: South Atlantic and gulf coasts of United States, straying to Brazil and Cape Cod. Foop: Stomach contents: Fishes, small crustacea, amphipods, lamellibranch shells, diatoms, and vegetable debris. POMATOMID®. The Bluefishes. 98. Pomatomus saltatrix (Linneus). Bluefish. Groce. Dist.: Atlantic and Indian Oceans. MicRATIONS: Its migrations are probably more influenced by the presence of food than by temperature. They move along the coast from the south toward the north in the spring, following schools of menhaden. Immense schools appear off the Carolina coast in March and April; reaching the Jersey coast in the early part of May; Newport, middle of May to first week in June. In October they leave the northern coasts and appear off the coast of Carolina about the middle of November, where a very ex- tensive fishery exists until late in December. Their presence off the Carolina coast in autumn is preceded by schools of menhaden and marked by flocks of birds. (Prof. Baird, Report U. 8. Fish Commission, 1873.) Season IN R. I.: Common but not abundant. They arrive about June 1, and remain until the last of November. These fishes are 12 to 14 inches in length. On August 27, 1905, many young of this species, 4 to 6 inches long, were found gilled in the meshes of the traps. These had probably been present for some time, but had before been too small to be held in the nets. These increased to about 9 inches in length before the end of the season. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 69 Repropuction: Little is known about this. It is possible that they spawn in early spring or winter in deep water or along more southerly coasts. Then the young, under the influence of migratory instinct, move north- ward along the coast, growing rapidly as they proceed. This explains the presence of the young fishes 4 to 6 inches in length in August. Well developed spawn is found in a small proportion of the bluefish when they first arrive. (Smith, The Fishes of Woods Hole, Bull. U. 8. Fish Com- mission, 1897, 98.) Foop: A very voracious, carnivorous fish, feeding particularly on menhaden and squeteague. Stomachs also sometimes contain herring, cunners, squid, scup, butter-fish, marine worms, and crustacea. Size: They reach a length of 5 inches in the middle of August; 6 or 7 inches in September; 9 inches in November; and at a year old are from 12 to 14 inches in length. NOMEID4. The Nomeids. 99. Nomeus gronovii (Gmelin). Portuguese Man-of-war-fish. Grog. Dist.: Tropical parts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in rather deep water, swimming near the surface, very abundant in the Sargasso Sea, common north to Florida and Bermuda, straying to Panama and Woods Hole. Season in R.J.: Found living under Portuguese man-of-war. STROMATEID4. The Butter-Fishes. 100. Palinurichthys perciformis (Mitchill). Rudder-fish; Pole-fish. Groa. Disr.: Atlantic coast of North America from Cape Hatteras to Maine. SEASON IN R.I.: Specimen from Newport in U.S. National Museum. (Proce. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1886, 91.) Foop: Small squids, snails, crustacea. 101. Peprilus paru (Linneus). Harvest-fish. Groc. Dist.: Cape Cod to Jamaica. SEASON IN R. I.: Rare, only a few appearing each season in June or July with the butter-fishes. A large specimen taken July 24, 1905. 70 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 102. Poronotus tricanthus (Peck). Butter-fish. Grog. Dist.: Maine to Florida, rare south of Cape Hatteras. Miarations: Appears early in April off the Jersey coast. SEASON IN R.I.: Appears toward the last of May a little later than the scup. In 1905 first appeared May 22. The height of the spring run is during the first two or three weeks in June. A-few are present throughout the summer. In October occurs the fallrun. They finally leave in November. Young, 3 to 5 inches long, are common in October. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in June. Young frequently found in summer, living under the protection of stringers of the jellyfishes. Foop: Small fishes, small free-swimming crustacea, annelids. SizE: Maximum, 10 inches. CENTRARCHID. The Sunfishes. 103. Lepomis auritus (Linneus). Long-eared Sunfish. GroG. Dist.: Maine to Louisiana, east of the Alleghenies. Hapsirat: Abundant in all fresh-water streams. Size: Eight inches. 104. Eupomotis gibbosus (Linnzus). Sunfish. Groc. Dist.: Great Lake region to Maine, and southward east of the Alleghenies to Florida. Occurs only in the northern part of the Mississippi Valley. Hapirat: Clear brooks and ponds. 105. Micropterus dolomieu (Lacépéde). Small-mouthed Black Bass. Groc. Dist.: From Lake Champlain to Manitoba and southward on both sides of the mountains from James River to South Carolina and Arkansas. Hasirat: Clear cold waters of running streams. PERCID. The Perches. - 106. Boleosoma nigrum olmstedi (Storer). Darter. Groc. Dist.: Lake Ontario to Massachusetts, south to Virginia. Hasitrar: Among weeds of clear streams. Size: Three and a half inches. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. wal CHEILODIPTERID. The Cardinal Fishes. 107. Apogon imberbis (Linnzus). King of the Mullets. Grog. Dist.: Mediterranean and neighboring waters; Florida, West Indies, and Brazil. A specimen taken at Newport was described by Cope in 1870. (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1870, 120.) SERRANID2. The Sea Basses. 108. Roccus lineatus (Bloch). Striped Bass; Rockfish. Grog. Dist.: Atlantic coast of United States, New Brunswick to Florida. Most common from Cape Cod to Cape May. Mierations: It is said not to be migratory but present along our coast in winter as well as in summer. Taken through the ice in Long Island and Block Island Sounds in December. (Goode, Nat. Hist. of Aquatic Ani- mals, 425.) Season IN R. J.: Arrives the last of March with the shad. The dates of arrival in Taunton River from 1871 to 1883 range from March 15 in 1880, to April 6, in 1883. (Bull. U.S. Fish Commisison, 1883, 478.) REPRODUCTION: Spawns in rivers in the spring. Foop: Voracious feeders, eating fishes and crustacea. (Goode, loc. cit.) Size: Largest ever taken weighed 112 pounds. 109. Morone americana (Gmelin). White Perch. Grog. Dist.: Atlantic coast, South Carolina to Nova Scotia. Season IN R. I.: Present the year round. Taken in traps in the Bay in October. Hasitrat: Shallow shore waters, brackish and fresh water of rivers and ponds connected with salt water. Sometimes land-locked. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in May in fresh water. (Goode, Hist. of Aquatic Animals, 432.) Foop: Shrimp, fish spawn, insects, crabs, small fishes, and eels. Size: Eight inches. 110. Epinephelus niveatus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Snowy Grouper. Groa. Dist.: Brazil to West Indies, often straying north to Cape Cod. 72 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Season In R. I.: Two young specimens, 2 inches long, taken by Samuel Powell at Newport, 1860. (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, 98.) Drs. Goode and Bean report the capture of another specimen at the same place in 1877. (Amer. Jour. Sci. & Arts, XVII, 1879, 545.) Also, three other specimens of this species from Rhode Island are in the U. 8. National Museum; one 24 inches long is from Tiverton, the other two, 3 and 3} inches long, taken at Point Judith. The first specimens recorded from Woods Hole were taken in 1895; 8 or 10 other specimens taken in the vicinity in the same year; 2 of these were 2? and 14 inches long. 111. Centropristes striatus (Linneus). Sea Bass; Black Bass. Grog. Distr.: Atlantic coast, Casco Bay to Northern Florida. Miaerations: Probably spends the winter in a torpid state around rocky bottoms without extensive migrations. (Goode.) Appears on the Jersey coast in April. Season In R. I.: Arrives in May and is then most abundant. Leaves in October. : Hapirat: Rocky bottom in cavities and under stones. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in June. Sexual differences are very marked, especially during the breeding season. Foop: The various crustacea are its most important food; crabs, lobsters, shrimp; also squids, molluses, small fishes. 112. Rypticus bistrispinus (Mitchill). Grog. Dist.: South Altantic coast of the United States in rather deep water, straying north to Newport, R. I. SrAson IN R. I.: One specimen was taken at Newport by Samuel Powell and described by Cope in 1870. (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1870, 119.) LOBOTIDA. The Triple-Tails. 113. Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch). Triple-tail; Flasher. (Plate IV.) Grog. Dist.: All warm seas, Cape Cod to Panama. SEASON IN R.I.: The rarity of this species is shown by the fact that, accord- ing to the Report of U. S. Fish Commission, 1901, only 6 specimens had been recorded in northern waters in twenty years. September 10, 1901, a specimen weighing 6 pounds and 22 inches long was caught in a trap off ‘AI Lv Ig ‘(sIsusmIvULINs s940qo'7) TV EAA, AH, iy eee OOS eee, () (\ oS LUNIA OOO ae NN DONA CCX AA eee Ns be Hy a ie jen Oa Med OL a n << nh, iy : REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 73 Prudence Island. A specimen 18 inches long was taken in a trap August 20, 1905, near Saunderstown. Another was reported by a fisherman in the upper part of Narragansett Bay about two weeks later. Hasitat: A bottom fish of sluggish habits. Repropuction: Probably spawns in brackish water in the spring, as young 3 inches long were found in August in the eelgrass in Tuckahoe River, New Jersey. (Goode.) Foop: Small fishes, muscles, shrimp. Size: Three feet. PRIACANTHID. Catalufas. 114. Pseudopriacanthus altus (Gill). Big-eye. Groc. Disr.: West Indies in rather deep water, north to Cape Cod. Season In R. I.: Very rare. A few have been taken at Woods Hole and vicinity. The type of this species described by Gill was a very young specimen taken in Narragansett Bay near Conanicut Ferry in September, 1860. (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1870, 120.) LUTIANID®. The Snappers. 115. Neomeenis griseus (Linneus). Gray Snapper; Mangrove Snapper. Groc. Dist.: West Indies, ranging from New Jersey to Brazil, straying northward to Woods Hole. Season In R.I.: A snapper was taken in 1896 at Newport which was prob- ably this species. A few others have been taken at Woods Hole in September. (H. M. Smith, The Fishes of Woods Hole, Bull. U. S. Fish Commission, 1897, 100.) SPARID.®. The Porgies. 116. Stenotomus chrysops (Linnzus). Scup; Porgy; Scuppaug. Greoa. Disr.: Most abundant on south coast of New England. Ranges from Casco Bay, Maine, to South Carolina. Migrations: They strike directly on the southern New England coast from their winter habitat in warmer water; they begin to leave about the middle of October. Cod have been taken on Nantucket shoals, in late November, filled with small scup. 10 74 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Season In R.I.: The first stragglers appear about the last of April. The first large run comes early in May, and consists of large breeding fish. The second or summer run comes after the breeders and is composed of small fishes without spawn. They are said to come in from the west and south. They are very abundant in May and June; stragglers remain all summer; they finally leave the last of October. In 1900 the first arrival was April 21, reaching Cuttyhunk April 26, Woods Hole on May 1. In 1901 the first arrival was April 26. The dates of arrival of the scup in Taunton River from 1871 to 1883 range from May 27 in 1880 to June 1 in 1882. The earliest recorded appearance in Rhode Island is probably April 15 in 1871. The greatest abundance of that year in Newport was on the 15th of May. In 1905, Capt. Church of Tiverton caught a single scup on May 1st at Newport. On May 11th the sea fowl appeared outside Newport Harbor, the usual sign of the approach of the schools. First good catch was made on May 16; small catches were made until June 4, when for a few days the largest hauls of the season were made. The season ended June 25 in the Bay, while at Block Island it lasted until after June 27. The season this year was poorer than usual, due perhaps to the fact that on May 16 and a few days following there was an exceptionally large run of pollock along the whole shore from Brenton’s Reef to Sakonnet Point. ReEpropuctTion: The first runs consist of large breeding fish filled with spawn. The eggs are deposited on eelgrass and sandy shores; they sink to the bottom and adhere to solid objects. Fishermen say that the scup spawn in the pounds when being confined there. The eggs hatch in a very few days, and the young can often be seen swimming around on the surface with the yolk sac visible. As they grow older they continue to remain in and around the pounds, apparently for protec- tion. Spawning season is over not long after June 1, as is shown by the taking of spent fishes and by the fact that, about this time, the scup begin to take the hook. Enemies: Bluefish, cod, halibut, shark, squeteague. Foop: Invertebrates chiefly, though small fishes are sometimes found in the stomachs of large specimens. Molluses, crustacea, annelids, squids, hydroids, crepidule. Stomachs of small specimens usually contain chiefly copepods and other small crustacea. Size: The young 4 or 5 inches long are sometimes taken in the seine in September and October on sandy shores. The young reach 4 to 3 inches long in July. (Smith, Fishes of Woods Hole, loc. cit.) REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. he 117. Lagodon rhomboides (Linnzus). Sailor’s Choice; Shiny Scup. Groac. Dist.: Abundant from Cape Hatteras southward, straying north to Cape Cod. Season 1n R.I.: Not common. Specimen from Newport, collected by Mr. J. M. K. Southwick in 1899. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in the south in winter or early spring. Foop: Small Genes small crustacea. 118. Archosargus probatocephalus (Walbaum). Sheepshead. Groc. Dist.: Cape Cod to Mexico, abundant in the south. Season IN R.J.: Said to have been common formerly, but now rare north of Long Island. Sometimes taken at Newport. (Mr. Southwick). REPRODUCTION: Spawns in bays and mouths of rivers in March and April. Hasitat: Bottom fish. Foop: Barnacles, shell-fish. Size: Maximum, 3 pounds. KYPHOSID. The Rudder-Fishes. 119. Kyphosus sectatrix (Linneus). Rudder-fish. Groc. Dist.: Common in West Indies and Key West, and east to the Canary Islands; straying to Cape Cod. Specimen in U.S. National Museum, taken at Newport by Mr. Samuel Powell. (Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1879, 46.) SCLAENIDE. The Drums. 120. Cynoscion regalis (Bloch & Schneider). Squeteague; Weakfish. Groce. Dist.: Abundant from Cape Cod to Florida, straying on the Gulf coast to Mobile, north to Bay of Fundy. Mierations: Taken on the Jersey coast in April. The temperature of the water at the time of their arrival is about 50°F., though their movements may depend more on the presence of schools of menhaden and butter- fish, on which they feed, than on the temperature. SEAson IN R.1.: Scattering individuals are taken the middle or last of May, but the large run does not come until about June 10. Very abundant through the remainder of the season and is the most important food fish REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. of the State after the end of the scup season. They decrease considerably in numbers the latter part of July and August; they increase again the latter part of August and September, and finally disappear in October. The first runs are composed of adults fishes of uniform size, some having ripe spawn. About August 20 a new school arrives, composed of smaller fishes about 12 to 14 inches in length. These remain throughout the season. The first specimen taken in Providence River in 1905 was at Gaspee Point on June 16th. A catch of 70,000 pounds was made June 16, 1905, by a Gloucester schooner off Block Island. ° Hapirat: Coast and still-water fish, running up tidal waters. Immense schools on surface have often been seen. (Goode.) RepropuctTion: Many of the fishes have ripe spawn when they first arrive; this indicates the spawning season about June 1. Spawns around bays and inlets and at the mouths of rivers in certain localities; Providence River is a favorite spawning ground. The eggs are buoyant. Foop: Fishes, especially menhaden and butter-fish, are its staple articles of diet. Herring, scup, squids, shrimp. The young live exclusively on shrimp and young fishes. (J. H. Peck, Ph. D., The Sources of Marine Food, Bull., U. S. Fish Commission, 1895, 351.) Size: August 5, 1901, young squeteague abundant at Red Bridge, Providence River, 1.25 to 2.25 inches in length. (Eigenmann, Investigations into the History of the Young Squeteague, Bull., U.S. Fish Commission, 1901, 45.) 121. Leiostomus xanthurus (Lacépéde). Spot; Goody. Grog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Texas; abundant south. Micrations: Jersey coast at Sea Isle City in July; north Jersey coast in August; Woods Hole in autumn; remaining through October until the temperature falls below 45° F. Season IN R. I.: Sometimes taken at Newport. (Mr. Southwick.) Hasirat: Bottom fish. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in the south in bays and inlets in November and December. Foop: Small molluscs and crustacea, annelids. Size: Three or 4 inches on south Jersey coast, Woods Hole specimens about 6 inches. 122. Menticirrhus saxatilis (Bloch & Schneider). Kingfish; Sea-mink. Grog. Dist.: Cape Ann to Pensacola. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. C6 Micrations: Reaches Jersey coast in April, most abundant in May. Season 1n R.I.: First appears in May. A few are present throughout the season until October. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in June. (Smith, Fishes of Woods Hole.) Hapsirat: Deep channels, sandy bottoms. Occurs singly, not in schools. Foop: Bottom feeders. Small crustacea, annelids, sometimes young fishes. Size: At Woods Hole the young one inch long appear in the middle of July on sandy beaches. These become 4 or 5 inches long in October. (Smith, loc. cit.) 123. Pogonias cromis (Linnzus). Drum. Groc. Dist.: Abundant on South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, rare north to Provincetown. Season IN R.I.: Very rare. Hapitat: Sluggish swimmers, living on the bottom. Foop: Bottom-dwelling invertebrates. This fish is especially destructive to oysters. Size: Average, 20 pounds, maximum, 80 pounds. Young specimens much unlike adults. POMACENTRID®. The Demoiselles. 124. Abudefduf saxatilis (Linnezus). Pintano; Cow-pilot. GroG. Dist.: Tropical America on both coasts, abundant in West Indies. Gill in 1870 mentioned a specimen of this species from Rhode Island. (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1870, 120.) Foop: Free-swimming crustacea. LABRID. The Wrasse-Fishes. 125. Tautogolabrus adspersus (Walbaum). Cunner; Chogset. Groc. Dist.: Labrador to Sandy Hook. Season IN R. I.: Extremely abundant the year round; hibernates in the eelgrass during the winter. Hapitrat: Shoal water around shores and wharves. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in June and July. 78 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Foop: Like that of the tautog. Browses around wharves, piles, and similar places, eating fishes, tunicates, hydroids, annelids, small crustacea, univalve molluscs; an important scavenger of harbors, feeding on all kinds of dead animal matter. Size: Teninches. Young 1 inch long appear August 1. (Smith, loc. cit.) 126. Tautoga onitis (Linnzus). Tautog; Blackfish. Geog. Dist.: Atlantic coast, New Brunswick to Charleston. Season IN R. I.: Abundant from May to November, but taken in the greatest numbers from the middle of May till the middle of June. In winter they seek deeper water and probably hibernate among the rocks. A few have been taken in Rhode Island in midwinter with lines and in lobster pots. (Goode.) There are instances of their death in great numbers during very cold winters. In February, 1857, after a very cold season, hundreds of tons of tautog drifted on the shores of Block Island; in 1841 the same thing occurred on the southern shores of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. (Goode.) In 1900 the first specimen taken at Paw- tuxet was on April 26. Hasirat: Shallow water on exposed shores about rocks and seaweed. REPRODUCTION: Spawns from May through July, probably in eelgrass. The young appear about August 1. Foop: MHard-shelled molluscs and crustacea. Size: The largest one on record was taken at New York, July 1876, and measured 364 inches. EPHIPPID. The Angel-Fishes. 127. Chzetodipterus faber (Broussonet). Spadefish; Angel-fish; Moon-fish. Groce. Dist.: Cape Cod to Rio Janeiro, very abundant on our south Atlantic coast. Season InN R.I.: Very rare. One specimen, 17 inches long, is in possession of the Commission, taken in Narragansett Bay, date uncertain. Foop: Shrimp, annelids, foramenifera, diatoms. CHAATODONTID. The Butterfly Fishes. 128. Chzetodon ocellatus (Bloch). Parché. Groce. Dist.: Common at West Indies, the young straying northward to New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod. I i} ‘ i hip Ms hit Up hy Ys Tue PrigGEeR FisH (Balistes carolinensis). PLATE V. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 79 Season IN R.I.: Gill describes a young specimen 1 inch long from Newport. (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, 99.) BALISTID. The Trigger-Fishes. 129. Balistes forcipatus (Gmelin). Powell’s Filefish. Groc. Distr.: Africa, occasionally straying to American coasts. This species has been identified with Balistes powelli. (Jordan and Evermann, Fishes of North America, 1702.) Only one specimen has ever been recorded from northern waters; this was a young individual taken in September, 1867, at Newport by Samuel Powell and described by Cope. (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1870, 120.) 130. Balistes carolinensis (Gmelin). Tvrigger-fish; Leather-jacket. (Plate V.) Groa. Dist.: Tropical parts of the Atlantic north in the Gulf Stream to England and Cape Cod. Season in R. I.: Somewhat rare, but generally a few are taken each year. One specimen, taken in a trap in the West Passage, Narragansett Bay, August 1, 1905, and another October 9, 1905, with tautog, near the north end of Conanicut Island. Specimen from Newport in the U. S. National Museum. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 77.) REPRODUCTION: Supposed to spawn in deep water. Foop: Molluses, crustacea. MONACANTHID®. The Filefishes. 131. Monacanthus hispidus (Linneus). oolfish; Filefish. Groa. Dist.: Cape Cod to Cuba, through the West Indies to Brazil. Spason in R.J.: A few specimens taken in Rhode Island waters, the maxi- mum size being 5 or 6 inches. A specimen from Newport in the U. §. National Museum. (Proe. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 76.) Foop: Small crustacea, annelids, lamellibranchs, small gasteropods. Size: Adults, 10 inches; only the young found north. 132. Ceratacanthus schoepfii (Walbaum). Fooljish; Filefish. Grog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Florida and Texas. Season IN R.I.: Occasionally taken in August and September. Specimen from Newport in the U. S. National Museum. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 80 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 1880, 76.) Four taken in the traps in Narragansett Bay during August, 1905. One young specimen, 4 inches long, taken in trap at Goose Neck, near Wickford, October 9, 1905. Young, 1 to 4 inches long, common under gulfweed in summer. RepropuctTion: Probably spawns in mid-ocean. (Goode.) Foop: Small crustacea, jelly-fishes, ctenophores, hydroids. OSTRACIID. The Trunkfishes. 133. Lactophrys trigonus (Linnezus). Trunkfish; Shell-fish. Grog. Dist.: West Indies, north to Woods Hole. Size: Young specimens 1 inch long are common from July to October at Woods Hole in eelgrass and around wharves. (Smith.) TETRAODONTID2. The Puffers. 134. Lagocephalus levigatus (Linneus). Smooth Puffer; Puffer. Geog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Brazil. SEASON IN R.J.: Somewhat rare. One specimen taken in Narragansett Bay, July 22, 1887. Three were taken in the year 1900, the largest weighing 10 pounds, caught October 4 at Tiverton; one at Newport, collected by Mr. J. M. K. Southwick, and a third taken in a purse-net near Point Judith, September 28. Specimen 44 inches long taken in early August, 1905. This is an interesting specimen in view of the fact that Smith says that those of this species taken at Woods Hole are all about 11 or 12 inches long, small ones never being observed. ReEpropuction: Said to breed near Pensacola in June and July. SizzE: Average, 2 feet. 135. Spheroides maculatus (Bloch & Schneider). Swellfish; Puffer. GxroGc. Dist.: Atlantic coast of United States from Cape Ann to Florida. Season IN R. I.: Very common from May to October. Many young speci- mens, an inch long and upwards, are taken in the seines on the sandy beaches through July and August. Repropucrion: Spawns from June 1to10. (Smith.)’ Foop: Bottom invertebrates; small crabs, hermit crabs, shrimp, molluses, crepidule, annelids. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 81 136. Spheroides testudineus (Linnzus). Grog. Dist.: West Indies north to Newport. Srason in R. I.: Has been taken at Newport. (Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1870, 120.) 137. Spheroides trichocephalus (Cope). This species is known only from Cope’s description of a small specimen 4 inches long taken by Samuel Powell in the Gulf Stream off Newport. Possibly the young of Spheroides pachygaster. (Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1870, 120.) . DIODONTID. The Porcupine-Fishes. 138. Chilomycterus schoepfi (Walbaum). Swell-toad; Puffer; Porcupine-fish. Geog. Dist.: Cape Cod to Florida, abundant south in shallow water. SrAsoNIN R.I.: Two specimens from Rhode Island are in the U.S. National Museum; one was taken at Newport, (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 75); the other was taken at Watch Hill by the U.S. Fish Commission, September 18, 1874. (Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1879, 24.) In 1903 Mr. Fowler, of Wickford, took a specimen in a dredge in Narragansett Bay opposite Hamilton. Foop: Crustacea, molluscs. Size: Six to 10 inches. MOLID®. The Head-Fishes. 139. Mola mola (Linneus). Sunfish. Grog. Dist.: Tropical seas, north to San Francisco, Cape Cod, and England. Season 1n R.I.: Occasionally taken at Block Island in late summer. Hapirat: Surface of the open water. Repropuction: Nothing is known about its breeding habits, but the young are sometimes taken in mid-ocean. Foop: Fishes, crustacea, ctenophores, jelly-fishes. Size: Largest on record was taken at California, 8 feet, 2 inches long, weigh- ing 1,800 pounds. 11 82 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. SCORPAENIDA. The Rock-Fishes. 140. Helicolenus dactylopterus (De la Roche). Groac. Dist.: Narragansett and Chesapeake Bays, in deep water. Common in the Mediterranean. Season In R.I.: First discovered in America in 1880 off Narragansett Bay, by the Fish Hawk. (Goode and Bean, Oceanic Ichthyology, 1896, 249.) COTTIDAE. The Sculpins. 141. Myoxocephalus zeneus (Mitchill). Little Sculpin; Grubby. Groc. Dist.: Coast of southern New England and New York. Srason In R. I.: Common throughout the year. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in March; the eggs at that time may be seen sticking to nets and seaweed. Foop: Bottom invertebrates; annelids, copepods, shrimp, young flounders. Size: Maximum, 6 to 8 inches. Specimen 3 inches long taken in seine at Willow Beach near Wickford, July 17, 1905. 142. Myoxocephalus groenlandicus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Daddy Scul- pin; Sculpin. Grog. Dist.: New York to Greenland. Srason In R. J.: Common in October and November. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in November and December. Foop: Fishes, crustacea, worms. Size: Maximum, 25 inches. 143. Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus (Mitchill). Highteen-spined Scul- pin; Sculpin. Gxoc. Dist.: Labrador to Virginia, common about Cape Cod. Srason 1n’R. I.: Common in October and November. Specimen taken May 29, 1905, off Brenton’s Reef, Newport. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in November and December. Sizz: About a foot long. 144. Hemitripterus americanus (Gmelin). Sea-raven; Red Sculpin. Groc. Disr.: Atlantic coast, New York to Labrador. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 83 Season IN R. I.: Occasionally taken in October and November. Two specimens from Newport are in the U. 8. National Museum. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 86.) October 9, 1905, a specimen taken at the north end of Conanicut Island. Foop.: All bottoms invertebrates; molluscs, crustacea, sea urchins, worms. Useful scavengers. CYCLOPTERID. The Lump-Suckers. 145. Cyclopterus lumpus (Linnzus). Lumpjish. Geoa. Dist.: North Atlantic, south to France and Cape Cod. Season IN R.I.: Fairly common in April, May, and June. Specimen from Newport in the U. S. National Museum. (Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., 1880, 83.) Hapirat: Rocky shores. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in April and May near the shore. ‘‘The female then retires to deep water, leaving the male to watch the eggs which hatch among seaweed and eelgrass.’”’ (Garman.) The young are sometimes taken in the summer under drifting seaweed. Foop: Ctenophores, small jelly-fishes. S1zE: Sometimes reaches 20 inches, but generally less. LIPARIDIDA. The Sea-Snails. 146. Liparis‘liparis (Linneus). Sea-snail; Sucker. Groa. Dist.: North Atlantic on both shores, north to Spitzbergen, south’ to Connecticut and France. Most abundant in North Europe. Season In R.I.: In the U. 8. National Museum is a specimen taken by the U.S. Fish Commission at Watch Hill Reef, August, 1874. Small specimen taken in September, 1874, off Block Island, from the shell of a large species of scallop, Pecten tenwicostatus. (Goode, Nat. Hist. of Aquatic Animals, 234.) Common in winter on rocky bottoms. (Smith.) Hasirat: Parasitic, living within the shells of large scallops, in company with a small crab. ReEpRopucTION: Found full of spawn in December and January. (Smith.) 84 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. : TRIGLID. The Gurnards. 147. Prionotus carolinus (Linnzeus). Common Gurnard; Sea-robin. Groc. Dist.: Cape Cod to South Carolina. But in 1896, between July 4 and 14, over 25 specimens were taken in Casco Bay, Maine. Srason IN R. I.: Appears in May, and is common until October. Two specimens from Newport in the U. 8. National Museum. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in June. Foop: Fishes, one specimen had four winter flounders in the stomach. Also young clams, squids, molluscs, shrimp, annelids. 148. Prionotus strigatus (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Sea-robin; Red Sculpin. Groa. Dist.: Atlantic coast, Cape Cod to Virginia. SEASON IN R. I.: Common in shallow water in summer. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in summer. (Smith.) CEPHALACANTHID®. The Flying Gurnard. 149. Cephalacanthus volitans (Linneus). Flying Robin; Flying Gurnard. Grog. Dist.: Atlantic Ocean, on both coasts. ECHENEIDID®. The Remoras. 150. Echeneis naucrates (Linneus). Shark Sucker; Remora. GroG. Dist.: Warm seas, universally distributed, north to Cape Cod and San Francisco. Season IN R. 1.: In the warmer part of the summer they are occasionally found swimming around in the traps or attached to almost any fish. Hasirar: Very common in the tropics, attached to turtles or any large fish. 151. Echeneis naucrateoides (Zuieuw). Sucker. Geoac. Disr.: The same as the above species. Seasonin R.I.: Specimen from Newport in U.S. National Museum. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 102.) One taken in a trap in Dutch Island Harbor, Narragansett Bay, October 2, 1905. 152. Rhombochirus osteochir (Cuvier). Spearfish Remora. Geoac. Disr.: West Indies north to Cape Cod. Rare. Hasirat: Parasitic on spearfish (Tetrapturus). Or REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 8 BATRACHOIDID. The Toadfishes. 153. Opsanus tau (Linnzus). Toadfish; Toad-grunter. Groc. Dist.: Cape Cod to Cuba. Season IN R. I.: Common throughout the year in shallow water under stones and eelgrass. Hapitat: Among rocks and weeds close to the shore. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in June, the eggs being attached to the under sides of sticks and stones. Foop: Young fishes and all kinds of bottom invertebrates. Size: Maximum, 15 inches. BLENNIID. The Blennies. 154. Pholis gunnellus (Linnzus). Butter-fish; Rock Eel. Geog. Dist.: North Atlantic, Labrador to Rhode Island, Norway to France. Season In R.I.: Occurring rarely in spring. Hasitrat: Rocky shores among alge, in deep water in winter. Size: Twelve inches. ANARHICHADID. The Wolf-Fishes. 155. Anarhichas lupus (Linnezus). Wolj/-fish; Catfish. Geoc. Dist.: North Atlantic south to Rhode Island and France. Season IN R. I.: In the U. S. National Museum is a cast of a specimen taken by the U. 8. Fish Commission at Coxswain’s Lodge, R. I., July 25, 1875. (Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1879, 32.) Size: Three or 4 feet. ZOARCID®. The Eel-Pouts. 156. Zoarces anguillaris (Peck). Fel-pout; Sea Eel. GroG. Dist.: Delaware to Labrador. SEASON IN R.I.: Offshore waters in the autumn. Hapirat: Deep water. Size. ‘Twenty inches. 86 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 157. Lycodes reticulatus (Reinhardt). Eel-pout. Groce. Dist.: North Atlantic, south to Narragansett Bay. Season 1n R. I.: The National Museum contains two specimens taken by the Fish Hawk in Narragansett Bay in 17 fathoms, September, 1880. (Goode and Bean, Oceanic Ichthyology, 1896, 305.) Hasirat: Deep water, 17 to 140 fathoms. Size: Fourteen inches. MERLUCCIIDE. The Hakes. 158. Merluccius bilinearis (Mitchill). Silver Hake; Whiting; Frost-fish. Grog. Dist.: Coast of New England, northward to Straits of Belle Isle; south in deep water to the Bahamas. Season In R. I.: A few taken in May in offshore waters. Common in Narragansett Bay in October. Repropuction: In September and October, 1880, while exploring the ocean bottom off Newport and at the edge of the Gulf Stream, immense numbers of the young of this species, from 4 inch to 3 inches in length, were taken on the bottom, in water 150 to 487 fathoms deep; with them were taken many adults, 12 to 18 inches in length, apparently in the act of spawning, some with ripe or nearly ripe ova, others which were evidently spent fish. The largest of these young must have been hatched from eggs shed in July. Thus the spawning season must be somewhat extended, lasting well into the fall. In September an adult taken at Halifax, N. S., was full of nearly ripe spawn. (Goode, Nat. Hist. of Aquatic Animals 242.) Foop: This species is a fish of prey, coming to the surface to capture herring and other small fishes. Also feeds upon crabs and small crustacea. GADIDA. The Cods. 159. Pollachius virens (Linneus). Pollock. Grog. Dist.: North Atlantic, south on both coasts to New Jersey and France. Migrations: Like the cod, appearing in New England shore waters in cool weather, leaving when temperature reaches 60° or 65°F. Reach Nan- tucket early in April. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 87 ‘Season 1n R. I.: Not common in Narragansett Bay. A large run arrives in offshore waters in the middle of May, probably leaving in June. Comes in again in September and October and are present through the winter. A small specimen, 14 inches long, taken September 11, 1905, Dutch Island Harbor, Narragansett Bay. On May 15, 1905, and during the few following days a large run of pollock took place all along the shore from Brenton’s Reef to Sakonnet. This was the largest run for years, and made havoc among the scup schools. Repropuction: Like the cod, spawning takes place in winter in the open water. The eggs are buoyant, but smaller than those of the cod. Hapitat: Like the cod; a bottom and deep-water fish. But it is more often seen on the surface than the cod, congregating in large schools which roam from place to place preying on fishes of all sorts. Foop: Fishes of all kinds; seup, young codfish. Size: Tenor12 pounds. Schools of young at Woods Hole in April, 1 to 14 inches long; these are 4 inches long in June. In September there is a run of pollock 7 or 8 inches long. 160. Microgadus tomcod (Walbaum). Tomcod; Frostfish. Groc. Disr.: Virginia to Labrador. SEASON IN R.I.: Present along the coast the year round; common in streams and near shores in winter. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in shore waters in December. Foop: Annelids, shrimp, amphipods, and other small crustacea. Size: Rarely over 12 inches. 161. Gadus callarias (Linneus). Cod. Grog. Dist.: North Atlantic, south to Virginia and France. Miarations: Prefers a temperature of 35° to 42°F., therefore it remains on the offshore banks during summer along the New England coast, keeping out in the cold Labrador current, which extends south inside the Gulf Stream, coming into more shallow water in the winter. Srason In R.I.: Appears in October; height of season November 1; present all winter. A spring run takes place in April. RepropuctTion: The extreme length of the spawning period is from Septem- ber to May. The spawning of each fish probably continues through a period of two months. The eggs are buoyant. 88 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Foop: Feeds on all marine animals smaller than itself. Many specimens of lobsters have been found in the stomach of cods; a 5-inch lobster was found in the stomach of a cod taken off Nantucket November 1, 1900. The very young feed exclusively on copepods. Size: At Woods Hole young, 4 to 1 inch in length, are seined in March. These leave about June 15, 3 or 4 inches in length. 162. Melanogrammus eglifinus (Linnzeus). Haddock. Grog. Dist.: North Atlantic, south to France and North Carolina; in deep water to Cape Hatteras. REPRODUCTION: Spawning season in April, May, and June. Foop: Like that of the cod, but more largely of invertebrates. (Goode.) 163. Urophycis regius (Walbaum). King Hake; Codling. Grog. Dist.: Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras, but nowhere common except in the neighborhood of Long Island. Season IN R. I.: From September to November; not common. Rare in Narragansett Bay. Specimens taken in 155 fathoms of water off Newport by the Fish Hawk, September, 1880. HapiratT: Deep water. Size: Average about 10 inches. 164. Urophycis tenuis (Mitchill). White Hake; Hake; Squirrel Hake. Grog. Dist.: Banks of Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras, abundant north- ward in deep water, reaching a depth of 304 fathoms. Season In R. I.: April to November; not so common as the Red Hake (Urophycis chuss). Repropuction: Probably spawns in spring and early summer. Young specimens found in the shells of Pecten tenuicostatus, off Watch Hill, September, 1874. (Goode.) Foop: Bottom feeding; fishes and crustacea. Size: One to 2 pounds. 165. Urophycis chuss (Walbaum). Hake; Red Hake. GroGc. Dist.: Atlantic coast, Gulf of St. Lawrence to Virginia. Common northward, reaching a depth of 300 fathoms. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 89 SEason 1n R. I.: Comes in about May 1 and is very common through May and June, but absent through the summer. Comes in again about Octo- ber 1 and is abundant until December. Hapirat: Bottom fish. Repropuction: They are said by the fishermen to be full of spawn when they first arrive, breeding season lasting through June and July. Foop: Crustacea and small fry. Size: Two to 5 pounds. 166. Brosme brosme (Muller). Cusk; Ling. Groc. Dist.: North Atlantic, south to Long Island and Denmark, north to Iceland and Spitzbergen. Rare south of Cape Cod. SEASON IN R.J.: Specimen taken off Newport November, 1898. Hapitat: Deep water, inhabiting rocky ledges. REPRODUCTION: Said to spawn during April and May. PLEURONECTID. The Flounders. 167. Hippoglossus hippoglossus (Linnzus). Halibut. GeoGc. Dist.: In all northern seas. In water of moderate depth in North Atlantic, North Pacific and Behring Sea; south in deep water to France, Sandy Hook, and San Francisco. Season In R. I.: In February, 1876, a few were taken about eight miles from the southeast point of Block Island. On May 1, 1876, off Watch Hill an 80-pound halibut was taken, the first in that vicinity for many years. On April 16, 1900, a 100-pound halibut was brought to Newport; it was taken with others off Block Island by a cod fisherman. It was formerly quite common around Block Island and Vineyard Sound. Hasirat: Cod banks of northern seas in water 32° to 45° F., from shoal water down to 250 fathoms or more. REPRODUCTION: Spawning season probably lasts from the latter part of the summer through the fall. (Goode.) Foop: Molluses and crustacea, and fishes of all sorts. Size: Up to 400 pounds. 168. Hippoglossoides platessoides (Fabricius). | Sand-dab; Rough-dab; Rusty Flounder. Grog. Dist.: North Atlantic, common in deep water south to southern New England and the coast of England and Scandinavia. 12 90 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Season in R. I.: Not unusual in deep water off southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, approaching the coast in winter. (Proc. U. S. Nat, Mus., 1880, 471.) 169. Paralichthys dentatus (Linnzus). Swmmer Flounder; Flounder; Fluke. Groc. Dist.: Atlantic coast, Cape Cod to Florida. Migrations: They are found northward in 2 to 20 fathoms; in winter they move out into deeper water. Season IN R. I.: May to the end of October. More abundant in summer than the winter flounder. Hasirat: Sandy bottoms. Foop: Small fishes, especially butter-fish and scup, crsutacea, molluscs, squid, sand dollars. 170. Paralichthys oblongus (Mitchill). Four-spotted Flounder; Flounder. Groc. Dist.: Coasts of New England and New York, inhabiting deeper water than the other species of this genus. Common on the coast of Cape Cod, rare in other places. Season IN R. I.: Common in May and June in the outside waters. Not common in Narragansett Bay. Specimens were taken off the Rhode Island coast by the Fish Hawk, in September, 1880, at a depth of 100 fathoms. REPRODUCTION: Spawns in May. The eggs are buoyant, 1-26 inch in diameter and hatch in 8 days in water of 51° to 56°F. Foop: Crustacea, annelids, molluscs, small fishes. Size: Twelve inches. 171. Limanda ferruginea (Storer). Rusty Flatfish. Groa. Distr.: Atlantic coast, Labrador to New York. SEASON IN R.I.: Common through the year in deep water. Foop: Crustacea, molluses, annelids, small fishes. 172. Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Walbaum). Flatfish; Winter Flounder. Groc. Disr.: Atlantic coast, Labrador to Chesapeake Bay. Micrations: Moves very little with change of season, but goes out into somewhat deeper water during the hot’summer months. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 91 Season in R. I.: Present the year round. More abundant in late winter and spring while spawning, and in October. A few are taken in traps in the summer, but it is not so common at that time as the summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus). A specimen 5 inches long was seined at Willow Beach near Wickford, July 17, 1905. A dark bellied variety appeared in Greenwich Bay in 1897; apparently these have since disappeared. (Bulletin U. S. Fish Commission, 19, 1899, 305.) Hapirat: Grassy and muddy bottoms. REPRODUCTION: Spawns from February to April. The eggs are 1-30 of an inch in diameter and very glutinous. The average number of eggs ina single individual is 500,000. The eggs hatch in 17 or 18 days in water 37° or 38°F. (Smith.) Foop: Small fishes, shrimp and other small crustacea, molluscs, annelids. 173. Lophosettal maculata (Mitchill). Window-pane; Sand-dab. Groac. Disr.: Atlantic coast of United States, Casco Bay to South Carolina. SEASON INm.I.: Very common from April to October. ReEpropuctTion: Spawns about June 1. The eggs are buoyant, non-ad- hesive, 1-24 of an inch in diameter; they hatch in 8 days in water 51° to 56° F. Foop: Fishes and crustacea. Size: Ten to 12 inches in length. Specimen 3 inches long, taken at Willow Beach, Wickford, July 17, 1905. SOLEID. The Soles. 174. Achirus fasciatus (Lacépéde). Sole; Hog-choker; Black Flatjish. Groc. Dist.: Coasts of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico north to Cape Ann. Common south of Susquehanna River. Season IN R.I.: Not very common in Narragansett Bay. Specimens from Providence and from Newport are in the U.S. National Museum. Speci- men taken August 14, 1905, in a trap in the West Passage. Foon: Hight specimens examined by Dr. Linton in 1899 had only vegetable debris (Fucus and eel-grass) in the alimentary canal. LOPHIID. The Fishing-Frogs. 175. Lophius piscatorius (Linnzus). Goosefish; Bellows-fish; Angler. GroG. Dist.: North Atlantic, common on both coasts. Ranges southward 92 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. along the shore to Cape Hatteras; in deep water as far as The Barbadoes in 209 fathoms, and to the Cape of Good Hope. North to Norway and Nova Scotia. Season In R. IL: Very common from April to July; apparently absent in summer, probably going out into deeper water; common in shallow water again in October. In September, 1880, three specimens were taken in the tilefish area at depths of 120 to 365 fathoms. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1880, 461.) Hapirat: A sluggish, bottom-loving fish. It probably hibernates in deep water in winter. In the winter of 1904-1905 many of this species, about a foot in length, were frequently seen dead in Narragansett Bay and thrown up on the shores. This was probably caused by the excessive cold of that season. Repropuction: Probably spawns in July and August in deep water. The eggs are buoyant, enclosed in a ribbon-shaped gelatinous mass about a foot wide and 30 or 40 feet long. Young specimens have been found only at considerable depths. Foop: Extremely voracious in its feeding habits, swallowing all kinds of fishes, including large numbers of its own species. It has been known to swallow live water fowl, whence its common name. Dr. Linton found specimens whose stomachs contained large quantities of mud full of mollusea, small crustacea, and annelids. ANTENNARIID. The Frog-Fishes. 176. Pterophryne histrio (Linneus). Marbled Angler; Sargassum Fish. (Plate VI.) Groce. Dist.: Tropical parts of the Atlantic, north to Cape Cod in floating masses of gulf weed. A specimen has been taken in Norway from seaweed floating in the Gulf Stream. A number of specimens have been taken at different times at Woods Hole and Nantucket Shoals. Season In R. I.: Two specimens were taken in 1904 at the mouth of the Sakonnet River, one on September 6, the other about a week later. Hapitat: Surface of tropical waters, chiefly under floating masses of gulf- weed. REPRODUCTION: Several specimens in an aquarium at Woods Hole spawned in August. The eggs were in long bands like those of the goosefish. This is one of the most interesting of our visitors from southern waters. It is usually found swimming under the bits of gulfweed which sometimes THE MARBLED ANGLER (Pterophryne histrio). PuLaTeE VI. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 93 drift in from the Gulf Stream in summer and autumn during long east and southeast blows. This fish furnishes an interesting example of protective resemblance. Reference to the illustration given in Plate VI shows the mottling of its body and the numerous filamentous appendages attached to its skin. This gives them such a resemblance to the gulfweed in which they float that they must be very effectively hidden from their enemies. With regard to their habits, Smith (The Fishes of Wood’s Hole), speaking of some specimens in an aquarium at Wood’s Hole, says: ‘‘While clumsy in their movements they were adepts at approaching and capturing other fishes. They are quite cannibalistic and one 6 inches long swallowed another 4 inches long, and they frequently bit off the fleshy dermal ap- pendages of their fellows.” As far as is known the two specimens above referred to are the only members of this species ever taken in Rhode Island waters. Their pres- ence here at that particular time is explained by the following data which has been kindly furnished by Mr. W. L. Day, Observer, Weather Bureau, Block Island. The direction of the wind during the two weeks previous to September 6, 1904, was prevailingly southwest for five days, east for three days, south for three days, northwest for three days. The mean velocity, moreover, for the two weeks under consideration was greater than the average by a difference amounting to about five miles an hour, the normal hourly velocity for August and September being 13 miles, and the average hourly velocity for the two weeks being 18. Remembering the general trend of the Atlantic coast and bearing in mind the fact that Cape Cod is less than 100 miles distant from the western edge of the Gulf Stream, it is easily seen that the drift of the Gulf Stream and the winds of the direction and velocity noted above would unite to.form a resultant acting on the floating masses of gulfweed so as to drive them northward and into the huge ‘“‘pocket”’ formed by the configuration of the southern New England coast. OGCOCEPHALID. The Bat Fishes. 177. Dibranchus atlanticus (Peters). Groa. Dist.: Deep waters of the Atlantic; very abundant in about 300 fathoms; north in the Gulf Stream to Rhode Island. Season In R. I.: - Very many specimens have been taken in the tile-fish area at depths ranging from 100 to 500 fathoms. A single specimen was cap- tured off Block Island in 1880. (Goode and Bean, Oceanic Ichthyology, 1896, 501.) APPENDIX. A PARTIAL LIST OF FISHES OBTAINED IN THE GULF STREAM SOUTH OF RHODE ISLAND. 1. Psenes edwardsii (EKigenmann). A single specimen, 90 mm. in length, was taken for the first time about July 28, 1900, by the schooner Grampus from under a Medusa 30 miles south of Newport. (Bull. U.S. Fish Commission, 21, 1901, 35.) 2. Lopholatilus chamzeleonticeps (Goode & Bean). Tilefish. Groc. Dist.: Deep water of western Atlantic. Taken in water not less than 55 fathoms in depth directly to the south of Rhode Island, in the area between 69° and 73° W. longitude and 40° 20’ to 39° 47’ N. latitude. (Bull. U.S. Fish Commission, 1898, 321.) Foop: Preéminently a crab eater; there have also been found, in the stomach of many specimens, squids, molluses, holothurians, spiny dogfish, eels, and fish bones. The following fishes were dredged off the southern coast of New England, by the U.S. Fish Commission steamer Fish Hawk, September 1, 1899, 40° N. latitude, 70° W. longitude. (Bull. U.S. Fish Commission, 19, 1899, 240.) Those marked with a * have already been mentioned in the list of Rhode Island fishes given above. It is interesting to note their occurrence in the Gulf Stream, as it in part explains their occasional presence in Rhode Island waters nearer shore. 3. Seriola fasciata (Bloch). Range, West Indies to Charleston, S.C. One specimen. 4. *Trachurops crumenophthalmus (Bloch). Range, Atlantic coast of United States. Two specimens. j 5. *Caranx crysos (Mitchill). AHard-tail. Range, Cape Cod to Brazil. One specimen. 6. 11. 123 the 14 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 95 Glossamia pandionis (Goode & Bean). Range, deep water cff Chesapeake Bay. One specimen. *Abudefduf saxatilis(Linnzeus). Range, both coasts of tropical America. One specimen. Balistes vetula (Linneus). Trigger-fish. Range, tropical parts of the Atlantic, Gulf Stream to Woods Hole. One specimen. *Monacanthus hispidus (Linneus). File-fish. Range, Cape Cod to Brazil. Several specimens. Lycenchelys verrilli (Goode & Bean). Range, coast of Massachusetts and northward. One specimen. *Merluccius bilinearis (Mitchill). Whiting or Silver Hake. Range, coast of New England and northward. ‘Two specimens. *Helicolenus maderensis (Goode & Bean). Range, deep waters of At- lantic coast from New York to Florida. One specimen. Raja eglanteria (Bosc). Skate. Range, Cape Cod, southward to Florida. One specimen. *Dibranchus atlanticus (Peters). Range, Gulf Stream. Several speci- mens. Note : The following should be added to the List of Rhode Island Fishes: 178. Lucius reticulatus (Le Seur). Pickerel; Green Pike. 179. 180. 181. 182. Pygosteus pungitius (Linneus). Nine-spined Stickleback. Sphyrzena borealis (De Kay). Northern Barracuda. Micropterus salmoides (Lacépéde). Large-Mouthed Black Bass. Perca flavesceus (Mitchill). Yellow Perch. INDEX * OF THE COMMON AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF ALL FISHES IN THE A. Abramis crysoleucas, 50 Abudefduf saxatilis, 77, 95 Achiurus fasciatus, 91 Acipenser brevirostrum, 49 Acipenser sturio, 49 Acipenseride, 49 Albula vulpes, 52 Albulide, 52 Alectis ciliaris, 67 Alewife, 53 Alopias vulpes, 45 Alopide, 45 Alosa sapidissima, 54 Amber-fish, 66 Amber-fishes, 65 Ameiurus nebulosus, 49 Ammodytes americanus, 62 Ammodytide, 62 Anarhichadide, 85 Anarhichas lupus, 85 Anchovies, 56 Anchovy, 56 Anchovy, striped, 56 Angel-fish, 48, 78 Angel-fishes, 78 Angler, 91 Angler, marbled, 92 Anguillide, 50 Antennariide, 92 Apeltes quadracus, 60 Apogon imberbis, 71 Archosargus probatocephalus, 5 7 Argentinide, 57 Atherinids, 61 Auxis thazard, 63 B. Balistes carolinensis, 79 Balistes forcipatus, 79 Balistes vetula, 95 Balistide, 79 Banded Pickerel, 57 Barndoor skate, 47 Barracuda, 62 Barracuda, northern, 95 Barracudas, 62 Bass, black, 72 Bass, black, large-mouthed, 95 Bass, black, small-mouthed, 70 Bass, sea, 72 Bass, striped, 71 Basses, sea, 71 Bat fishes, 93 Batrachoidide, 85 Beleosoma nigrum olmstedi, 70 Bellows-fish, 91 Big-eye, 73 Big-eyed herring, 52 Big-eyed scad, 66 Big skate, 47 Billfish, 58, 59 Black bass, 72 Black bass, large-mouthed, 95 Black bass, small-mouthed, 70, Black flatfish, 91 Black-nosed dace, 50 Black-winged flying fish, 59 PRECEDING LISTS. Blackback, 54 Blackfish, 78 Blennide, 85 Blennies, 85 Blue-back, 52 Blue shark, 45, 46 Bluefish, 68 Bluefishes, 68 Bonito, 63, 64 Bony fish, 55 Branch herring, 53 Brevoortia tyrannus, 55 Brook sucker, 50 Brook trout, 57 Brosme brosme, 89 Buckie, 53 Bullhead, 49 ~ Bull’s-eye mackerel, 63 Butterfish, 70, 85 Butterfishes, 69 Butterfly-fishes, 78 Butterfly ray, 48 Cc. Carangide, 65 Caranx crysos, 67, 94 Caranx hippos, 67 Carcharhinus milberti, 45 Carcharhinus obscurus, 45 Carcharias littoralis, 46 Carchariide, 46 Cardinal fishes, 71 Carps, 50 Catalufas, 73 Cat-fish, 85 Cat-fish, gaff-topsail, 49 Cat-fish, sea, 49 Cat-fishes, 49 Catostomide, 50 Catostomus commersonii, 50 Centrarchide, 70 Centropristes striatus, 72 Cephalacanthide, 84 Cephalacanthus volitans, 84 Ceratacanthus schoepfii, 79 Cereen, 64 Cheetodipterus faber, 78 Cheetodon ocellatus, 78 Cheetodontide, 78 Cheilodipteride, 71 Chogset, 77 Chub mackerel, 63 Chub sucker, 50 Cigar-fish, 66 Clupea harengus, 52 Clupeide, 52 Cobbler-fish, 67 Cod, 87 Codling, 88 Cods, 86 Common killifish, 58 Common mackerel, 62 Common pompano, 68 Common sucker, 50 Conger eel, 51 Conger eels, 51 Cornet fishes, 60 Cottide, 82 Cow-nosed ray, 49 Cow-pilot, 77 Crampfish, 47 Crevallé, 67 Crevallé, yellow, 67 Cunner, 77 Cusk, 89 Cutlas-fish, 65 Cutlas-fishes, 65 Cyclopteride, 83 Cyclopterus lumpus, 83 Cynoscion regalis, 75 Cyprinide, 50 Cypsilurus fureatus, 59 Cypsilurus gibbifrons, 60 D. Dace, 50 Dace, black-nosed, 50 Daddy sculpin, 82 Darter, 70 Dasyatide, 48 Dasyatis centrura, 48 Dasyatis hastata, 48 Decapterus macarellus, 66 Deacpterus punctatus, 66 Demoiselles, 77 Dibranchus atlanticus, 93, 95 Diodontide, 81 Dogfish, 46 Dogfish, smooth, 44 Dogfish, spiny, 46 Dogfishes, 46 Dollar-fish, 67, 68 Drum, 77 Drums, 75 Dusky shark, 45 E. Eagle rays, 48 Echeneidide, 84 Echeneis naucrates, 84 Echeneis naucratoides, 84 Eel, 50 Eel, conger, 51 Fel, lamprey, 44 Eel-pout, 85, 86 Ell pouts, 85 Eels, conger, 51 Eels, rock, 85 Fels, sea, 85 Eels, true, 50 Eighteen-spined sculpin, 82 Electric rays, 47 Elopide, 51 Elops saurus, 52 Engraulidide, 56 Ephippide, 78 Epinephelus niveatus, 71 Erimyzon sucetta, 50 Esocide, 58 Esoceetide, 59 Etrumeus sadina, 52 Euleptorhamphus velox, 59 Eupomotis gibbosus, 70 Exoccetus volitans, 59 F. Felichthys felis, 49 Filefish, 79, 95 Filefish, Powell’s, 79 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Filefishes, 79 Fishing-frogs, 91 Fistularia tabacaria, 60 Fistulariids, 60 Flasher, 72 Flatfish, 90 Flatfish, black, 91 Flatfish, rusty, 90 Flounder, 90 Flounder, four-spotted, 90 Flounder, rusty, 89 Flounder, summer, 90 Flounder, winter, 90 Flounders, 89 Fluke, 90 Flying fish, black-winged, 59 Flying fishes, 59 Flying gurnard, 84 Flying robin, 84 Foolfish, 79 Four-spined stickleback, 60 Four-spotted flounder, 90 Frigate mackerel, 63 Frog-fishes, 92 Frost fish, 86, 87 Fundulus diaphanus, 58 Fundulus heteroclitus, 58 Fundulus heteroclitus macro- lepidotus, 58 Fundulus majalis, 57 G. Gadide, 86 Gadus callarias, 87 Gaff-topsail cat-fish, 49 Galeichthys milberti, 49 Galeide, 44 Garfish, 58 Garfishes, 58 Gascon, 66 Gasterosteide, 60 Gasterosteus bispinosus, 60 Glossamia pandionis, 95 Glut herring, 54 Goggler, 66 Golden shiner, 50 Goody, 76 Goosefish, 91 Gray snapper, 73 Great sea lamprey, 44 Green pike, 95 Grouper, snowy, 71 Grubby, 82 Gurnard, common, 84 Gurnard, flying, 84 Gurnards, 84 H. Haddock, 88 Hake, 88 * Hake, king, 88 Hake, red, 88 Hakes, 86 Hake, silver, 86, 95 Hake, squirril, 88 Hake, white, 88 Halfbeak, 58 Halfbeaks, 58 Halibut, 89 Hammer-head, 45 Hammer-headed sharks, 45 Hardtail, 67, 94 Harvest fish, 69 Head fishes, 81 Helicolenus dactylopterus, 82 Helicolenus maderiensis, 95 Hemicramphiide, 58 Hemitripterus americanus, 82 Herring, 52 13 Herring, big-eyed, 52 Herring, branch, 53 Herring, glut, 54 Herring, river, 53 Herrings, 52 Herring, round, 52 Herring, sea, 52 Herring, thread, 54 Hickory shad, 53 Hippocampus hudsonius, 61 Hippoglossoides platessoides 89 Hippoglossus hippoglossus, 89 Hog-choker, 91 Holocentride, 62 Holocentrus ascensionis, 62 Horned pout, 49 Horse mackerel, 64 Hyporhamphus roberti, 58 I Istiophoride, 65 Isurus dekayi, 46 Ms Jack, 67 Jumping Mullet, 61 K Killifish, 57, 58 Killifish, common, 58 Killifishes, 57 King hake, 88 King of the mullets, 71 Kingfish, 64, 76 Kyphoside, 75 Kyphosus sectatrix, 75 L. Labride, 77 Lactophrys trigonus, 80 Lady-fish, 52 Lady-fishes, 52 Lagocephalus levigatus, 80 Lagodon rhomboides, 75 Lamna cornubica, 46 Lamnide, 46 Lamprey eel, 44 Lamprey, great sea, 44 Lampreys, 44 Lant, 62 Large-mouthed black bass, 95 Launce, sand, 62 Leather-jacket, 65, 79 Leiostomus xanthurus, 76 Lepomis auritus, 70 Leptocephalide, 51 Leptocephalus conger, 51 Limanda ferruginea, 90 Ling, 89 Liparidide, 83 Liparis liparis, 83 Little sculpin, 82 Lizzard fish, 57 Lizzard fishes, 57 Lobotes surinamensis, 72 Lobotide, 72 Long-eared sunfish, 70 Lookdown, 68 Lophiide, 91 Lophius piseatorius, 91 Lopholatilus chamzleonticeps, Lophosetta maculata, 91 Luciide, 57 Lucius americanus, 57 Lucius reticularis, 95 Lumpfish, 83 97 Lump-suckers, 83 Lutianide, 73 Lycenchelys verrilli, 95 Lycodes reticulatus, 86 M. Mackerel, bull’s-eye, 63 Mackerel, chub, 63 Mackerel, common, 62 Mackerel, frigate, 63 Mackerel, horse, 64 Mackerels, 62 Mackerel sead, 66 Mackerel shark, 46 Mackerel sharks, 46 Mackerel, Spanish, 64 Mangrove snapper, 73 Man-of-war, Portuguese, fish, 69 Marbled angler, 92 Mayfish, 57 Melanogrammus eglifinus, 88 Menhaden, 55 Menidia gracilis, 61 Menidia menidia notata, 61 Menticirrhus saxatilis, 76 Merlucciide, 86 Merluccius bilinearis, 86, 95 Microgadus tomcod, 87 Micropterus dolomieu, 70 Micropterus salmoides, 95 Mink, sea, 76 Minnow, spring, 58 Mola mola, 81 Molide, 81 Monacanthide, 79 Monacanthus hispidus, 79, 95 Moon-fish, 78 Morone americana, 71 Mugil cephalus, 61 Mugi! curema, 61 Mugilide, 61 Mullet, jumping, 61 Mullets, 61 Mullets, king of the, 71 Mullet, striped, 61 Mullet, white, 61 Mummichog, 58 Mustelus canis, 44 Myliobatide, 48 Myliobatis freminvillei, 48 Myoxocephalus seneus, 82 Myoxocephalus groenlandicus, 8 Myoxocephalus octodecimspi- nosus, 82 N. Narcobatide, 47 Naucrates ductor, 66 Needle-fishes, 58 Neomenis griseus, 73 Nine-spined stickleback, 95 Nomeide, 69 Nomeida, 69 Nomeus gronovii, 69 Northern barracuda, 95 Notropis cornutus, 50 Oo. Ogcocephalide, 93 Old maid, 47 Oligoplites saurus, 65 Opisthonema oglinum, 54 Opsanus tau, 85 Osmerus mordax, 57 Ostraciide, 80 98 P. Palinurichthys perciformis, 69 Paralichthys dentatus, 90 Paralichthys oblongus, 90 Parché, 78 Parexoccetus mesogaster, 59 Peprilus paru, 69 Perca flavescens, 95 Perch, white, 71 Perch, yellow, 95 Perches, 70 Percide, 70 Petromyzon marinus, 44 Petromyzonide, 44 Pholis gunnellus, 85 Pickerel, 57, 95 Pike, green, 95 Pikes, 57 Pilot-fish, 66 Pintano, 77 Pipe-fish, 60 Pipe-fishes, 60 Pleuronectide, 89 Peeciliid#, 57 Pogonias, cromis, 77 Pogy, 55 Pole-fish, 69 Pollachius virens, 86 Pollock, 86 Pomacentride, 77 Pomatomide, 68 Pomolobus estivalis, 54 Pomolobus mediocris, 53 Pomolobus pseudoharengus, Pomotomus saltatrix, 68 Pompano, common, 68 Pompano, round, 68 Pompanos, 65 Porcupine-fish, 81 Porcupine-fishes, 81 Porgies, 73 Porgy, 73 Poronotus tricanthus, 70 Portuguese man-of-war fish, 69 Pout, horned, 49 Powell’s filefish, 79 Priacanthide, 73 Prionotus carolinus, 84 Prionotus strigatus, 84 Psenes edwardsii, 94 Pseudopleuronectes ameri- canus, 90 Pseudopriacanthus altus, 73 Pterophryne histrio, 92 Pteroplatea maclura, 48 Puffer, 80, 81 Puffer, smooth, 80 Puffers, 80 Pug-nosed shiner, 67 Pygosteus pungitius, 95 R. Raja eglanteria, 95 Raja erinacea, 47 Raja levis, 47 Raja ocellata, 47 Rajide, 47 Ray, butterfly, 48 Ray, cow-nosed, 49 Ray, sharp-headed, 48 Ray, sting, 48, 49 Rays, eagle, 48 Rays, electric, 47 Rays, sting, 48 Redfin, 50 Red hake, 88 Red sculpin, 82 Remora, 84 Remoras, 84 Remora, spearfish, 84 Requiem sharks, 44 Rhinichthys atronasus, 50 Rhinoptera bonasus, 49 Rhombochirus osteochir, 84 River herring, 53 Roach, 50 Robin, flying, 84 Roccus lineatus, 71 Rock eel, 85 Rock fish, 71 Rock fishes, 82 Rough-dab, 89 Round herring, 52 Round pompano, 68 Round robin, 66 Rudder fish, 66, 69, 75 Rudder fishes, 75 Rusty flatfish, 90 Rusty flounder, 89 Rypticus bistrispinus, 72 Ss. Sail-fishes, 65 Sailor’s choice, 75 Salmon, 56 Salmon family, 56 Salmonide, 56 Salmo salar, 56 Salvelinus fontinalis, 57 Sanddab, 89, 91 Sand eel, 62 Sand launce, 62 Sand launces, 62 Sand shark, 46 Sand sharks, 46 Sarda sarda, 64 Sargassum fish, 92 Saurel, 66 Sauries, 59 Saury, 59 Scabbard-fish, 65 Scad, 66 Sead, big-eyed, 66 Scad, mackerel, 66 Scienide, 75 Scomber colias, 63 Scomber scombrus, 62 Scomberesocidez, 59 Scomberesox saurus, 59 Scomberomorus maculatus, 64 Scomberomorus regalis, 64 Scombride, 62 Scorpenide, 82 Seulpin, 82 Seculpin, daddy, 82 Sculpin, eighteen-spined, 82 Seulpin, little, 82 Sculpin, red, 82 Seulpins, 82 Scup, 73 Scup, shiny, 75 Scuppaug, 73 Sea bass, 72 Sea basses, 71 Sea cat-fish, 49 Sea eel, 85 Sea herring, 52 Sea-horse, 61 Sea lamprey, 44 Sea mink, 76 Sea raven, 82 Sea robin, 84 Sea snail, 83 Sea snails, 83 Selene vomer, 68 Seriola fasciata, 94 Seriola lalandi, 66 Seriola zonata, 66 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Serranide, 71 Shad, 54 Shad, hickory, 53 Shark, blue, 45, 46 Shark, dusky, 45 Shark, mackerel, 46 Shark, sand, 46 Shark-pilot, 66 Sharks, hammer-headed, 45 Sharks, mackerel, 46 Sharks, requiem, 44 Sharks, sand, 46 Sharks, thresher, 45 Shark-sucker, 84 Sharp-headed ray, 48 Sheepshead, 75 Shellfish, 80 Shiner, 50 Shiner, golden, 50 Shiner, pug-nosed, 67 Shiny scup, 75 Short-nosed sturgeon, 49 Shovel-nose, 45 Siluride, 49 Silver hake, 86, 95 Silverside, 61 Silversides, 61 Siphostoma fuscum, 60 Skate, barndoor, 47 Skate, big, 47 Skate, summer, 47 Skate, winter, 47 Skates, 47 Skipper, 58 Small-mouthed black bass, 70 Smelt, 57 Smelts, 57 Smooth dogfish, 44 Snapper, gray, 73 Snapper, mangrove, 73 Snappers, 73 Snowy grouper, 71 Sole, 91 Soleide, 91 Soles, 91 Spade-fish, 78 Spanish-mackerel, 64 Sparide, 73 Spearfish, 65 Spearfish remora, 84 Speckled trout, 57 Spheroides testudineus, 81 Spheroides trichocephalus, 81 Spheroides maculatus, 80 Sphyrena borealis, 95 Sphyrena guachancho, 62 Sphyrenide, 62 Sphyrnide, 45 Sphyrna zygena, 45 Spiny dogfish, 46 Spot, 76 Spring minnow, 58 Squalide, 46 Squalus acanthias, 46 Squeteague, 75 Squirrel fish, 62 Squirrel fishes, 62 Squirrel hake, 88 Stenotomus chrysops, 73 Stickleback, four-spined, 60 Stickleback, nine-spined, 95 Stickleback, two-spined, 60 Sticklebacks, 60 ~ Sting ray, 48, 49 Sting rays, 48 Stolephorus brownii, 56 Stolephorus mitchilli, 56 Striped anchovy, 56 Striped bass, 71 Striped mullet, 61 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS Stromateide, 69 Sturgeon, 49 Sturgeon, short-nosed, 49 Sturgeons, 49 Sucker, 83, 84 Sucker, brook, 50 Sucker, chub, 50 Sucker, common, 50 Sucker, shark, 84 Suckers, 50 Summer flounder, 90 Summer skate, 47 Sunfish, 70, 81 Sunfish, long-eared, 70 Sunfishes, 70 Swellfishes, 80 Swelltoad, 81 Swing-tail, 45 Switchtail, 44 Swordfish, 65 Swordfishes, 65 Sygnathide, 60 Synodontide, 57 Synodus foeteus, 57 De Tarpon, 51 Tarpon atlanticus, 51 Tarpons, 51 Tautog, 78 Tautoga onitis, 78 Tautogolabrus adspersus, 77 Ten-pounder, 52 Tetranarce occidentalis, 47 Tetraodontide, 80 Tetrapturus imperator, 65 Thread fish, 67 Thread herring, 54 Thresher, 45 Thresher sharks, 45 Thunnus thynnus, 64 Tilefish, 94 Toadfish, 85 Toadfishes, 85 Toad-grunter, 85 Tomcod, 87 Torpedo, 47 Trachinotus carolinus, 68 Trachinotus falcatus, 68 Trichiuriide, 65 Trachurops crumenophthal- mus, 66, 94 Trachurus trachurus, 66 Trichiurus lepturus, 65 Trigger-fish, 79, 95 Trigger-fishes, 79 Triglide, 84 . Triple-tail, 72 Triple-tails, 72 Trout, brook, 57 Trout, speckled, 57 Trumpet fish, 60 Trunkfish, 80 Trunkfishes, 80 Tungpy, 63, 64 Two-spined stickleback, 60 Tylosurus marinus, 58 OF INLAND FISHERIES. 99 U Urophycis chuss, 88 Urophycis regius, 88 Urophycis tenuis, 88 V. Vomer setipinnis, 67 Weakfish, 75 Whip-tail, 45 White hake, 88 White mullet, 61 White perch, 71 Whiting, 86, 95 Window-pane, 91 Winter flounder, 90 Winter skate, 47 Wolf fish, 85 Wolf fishes, 85 Wrasse-fishes, 77 X. Xipihas gladius, 65 Xiphide, 65 Ve Yellow crevallé, 67 Yellow Perch, 95 Z. Zoarces anguillaris, 85 Zoarcide, 85 THE COMMON FISHES OF THE HERRING FAMILY. PLATES VII To XII. HENRY C. TRACY, A. M. BROWN UNIVERSITY, PROVIDENCE, R. I. The fishes of the herring family common in Rhode Island waters are the herring, the hickory shad, the alewife, the glut herring, the shad, and the menhaden. The shad (Plate XI) and the menhaden (Plate XII) are so well known as to require no description, but I have found by conversations with fishermen and others that con- siderable uncertainty exists as to the identity of some of the other more closely related species. The reason why the herring is not better known is doubtless due to the fact that its numbers in Rhode Island waters are so small that its capture is of little importance. The alewives are generally properly distinguished, but the fact that there are two distinct species of them does not seem to be generally known. This is due, probably, to the fact that the two species are so very much alike that special care is necessary to separate them; and as the market is good for both under the name “ alewife,’’ there is no necessity for distinguishing them. The following description of these species is given in order to make clear the differences be- tween them. The true herring (Plate VII), sometimes called the sea- herring or English herring, is probably the most important of all food fishes. It ranges along the North Atlantic coasts of both Europe and America in immense schools covering many square miles, and from which are captured every year thousands of millions of fishes. Its south- REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 101 ward limit of range on the American coast is Cape Hatteras, though its numbers south of Cape Cod are so far diminished as to make its capture in these waters of little importance. At Eastport, Me., the young are canned in oil and sold under the name of “sardines.” The true sardines, however, come only from France and are the young of the “pilchard,”’ another member of the herring family which does not occur on our coast. The true herring never spawns in rivers, but in shoal water in certain localities along the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland to Block Island, when the water reaches temperatures between 47° and 57°F. Some schools spawn in the spring, others in the fall; but the spring schools ‘spawn almost exclusively to the east of the Bay of Fundy, and the fall schools entirely to the west of that place. It is readily distinguished from the other members of the herring family by the following points: Its body is long and slender, and compressed; it has teeth on the roof of the mouth and no sharp saw- tooth-like edge on the ridge of the belly; the distance from the pectoral fins to the ventral fins is greater than the distance from the ventral fins to the anal fin. The other three species of the herring family under consideration, namely, the hickory shad (Plate VIII), the alewife (Plate IX), and the glut herring (Plate X), differ from the true herring and agree with each other with regard to the following points: Their bodies are not elongated, but are somewhat oval in shape; they have no teeth on the roof of the mouth; they have a very sharp saw-tooth edge on the ridge of the belly; and the distance between the pectoral fins and ventral fins is about equal or less than the distance between the ventral fins and the anal fin. This difference in distance between the fins will be easily seen by reference to the plates. The hickory shad (Plate VIII) is distinguished from the alewife and the glut herring as follows: The form of its body is nearly oval and less heavy forward than is the case with the two other species; its head is longer and more slender; its lower jaw is also more projecting. There is a row of large dark spots on the upper forward part of the 102 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. body, as will be seen by reference to the illustration. The alewife and glut herring both have short thick heads, and their bodies are heavier forward. They are very similar to each other, and can best be distinguished by cutting open the body cavity; the lining membrane in case of the alewife is pale or gray in color, while it is black in the case of the glut herring. The fins are lower, also, in the glut herring, the eyes are smaller, and the body more elongated. Other names for the alewife (Plate IX) are the “river herring,” the “buckie,” and the “branch herring.”” Both the alewife and the glut herring run up the rivers in the spring to spawn like the shad. The herring never does so, and the hickory shad probably does not. The glut herring appears two or three weeks later than the alewife, coming in great numbers all at once. This fact, because of its. “olutting’”’? the markets, probably is the reason of its name. Its run does not last as long as that of the alewife. It is supposed not to go as far up the river, probably spawning not far above tide water. ‘IA Giv1g ‘(sndueivy vednyp) ONIWUAH AH, WY Y, 5 V Ke au A AY OOK Kara YY OOS WY) ee ik is eomee eee —S— SN SS ; p Hey) Bh 4) 3 Tue Hickory SHap (Pomolobus mediocris). PLATE VIII, ‘XI Giv1g ‘(snauaieyopnosd snqo[omog) AGIMATY AH, Es . 7 - + = -. “5 ‘X PYLVIg (SI[BAI]S@ snqojowog) ONINHAH LAITY any, Tur SHAD (Alosa sapidissima) PLATE XI, a ao iy MEA ‘ey ‘TIX divig ‘(snuueisy BIJIOOARIg) NAGVHNAW WHY, Hi " ‘ ih f ALAA N i i NNN \ Fo: aa! ‘ ) q rm y Sf if) he Me an ¥ REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 103 V. A ConrinvaNcer OF THE SURVEY OF THE SHORES OF THE Bay, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING THOSE PORTIONS WHICH ARE Most PRODUCTIVE OF SEED CLAMS, THOSE Most Favor— ABLE FOR THE PLANTING OF CLAMS AND FOR THE DISTRIBU-— TION OF LOBSTER FRY. Considerable progress was made during the past year in collecting data regarding the character of the shores of Narragansett Bay. A systematic survey was begun, charts of selected portions of the shore-line were made, on which were indicated all data regarding the character of the shore and facts regarding the presence of animal and plant life. Records of the water temperature and density were made in each section, and offshore dredgings and the collection of tow were systematically carried out. These charts were put on file and will be worked into a permanent chart of the whole Bay. The notes made and the specimens collected will be worked up as time allows, and will form the basis of a complete biological survey of the waters of the Bay, parts of which are already appearing in the previous section of this report. It will require considerable time to cover in such a thorough manner the extensive and varied shore-line of Narragansett Bay, especially when we consider the limited amount of time which can be spared from the other routine work for this purpose. The value of the work, however, is evident. Already there have been many species of animals found which were not known to occur in Rhode Island waters. The data regarding the distribution of the clam and the clam set, which were collected at the same time, are alone worth the trouble and expense of the undertaking. The following shores were thoroughly investigated this summer: Mill Cove (including shores of Cornelius and Rabbit Islands). Fishing Cove. The shore from Sauga Point to Quonset Point. ’ 104 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Quonset Point north to Allen’s Harbor. Rocky Point to Conimicut Point. Conimicut Point to Pawtuxet (including Greene’s Island). Bullock’s Point to Nayatt Point. Prudence Island. Patience Island. Kickemuit River. East shore Sakonnet River south to Sapowet Point. Upper west shore of Conanicut Island. Places dredged in addition to above: Wickford Harbor. Poplar Point, Cold Spring Beach. Off Vial’s Creek. Plum Beach Shoal. Dutch Island Harbor. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 105 VI. THe CONTINUED INVESTIGATION OF THE Lire HISTORY OF THE CLAM. MetTHOopS OF ARTIFICAL PROPAGATION AND CULTIVA— TION. During the season of 1905 little was attempted in the artificial propagation of the soft-shell clam, owing to the remarkable abundance of the natural supply. The number of clams on the shores of the Bay has not been so great formany years. Whereas in past years the distribution of the clams has been uneven, some localities being thickly set while others close by were practically barren, this year the entire shores of the Bay are covered with clams. Places which were good clam territory in the memory of the oldest inhabitant, but which for many years have been barren, have taken part in this general revival. Owing to the great abundance of clams every- where, the size attained was not very great. The clams were so crowded together that they could not attain full size. This fact necessitated, in spite of the great abundance of clams on our own shores, the shipment of clams from other States to supply the great demands of our shore resorts. These abundant native clams are mostly from the set of 1904, which, as described in the report for that year, were so abundant that in one locality 4,264 were found in an area of one square foot. This year the search for new set was thoroughly conducted, but, as will be seen in the table at the end of this section, with practically no result. Clam set was unusually scarce this year. Owing to the great abundance of clams it was a common sight to see a number of diggers come week after week to the same piece of shore and carry away anywhere from two bushels to a barrel each. The result of this continual digging over of the shores in one spot was forced upon our attention continually, and brings up the question of the effect of digging on the size and number of clams. It is the common opinion of the clammers that digging over the clams stimulates growth. The idea which they seem to have is that 14 106 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. the loosening of the earth about the clams is as good for them as it is for a hill of corn or potatoes. The fallacy in this argument is in the supposition that the clam draws its nourishment from the soil in which it grows, as is the case with the corn or potatoes. As a matter of fact the food of the clams is the microscopic life in the water, and can be secured only when the clam bed is covered with water. In reality the effect of digging over the clams is many-sided. To illustrate, by two examples: On Cornelius Island, in Wickford Harbor, the clams set extremely thick in 1904. A portion of the shore was set aside by the Commission for purposes of experiment, and was not dug over at all. Alongside this protected area the shore has been visited almost daily by the clammers. In the protected area the clams were so thick at the time of setting that there was not room for the growth of all of them, and so, as they increased in size, many were forced out upon the surface, so that in a short while the ground was thick with shells. The ice carried off many of the small clams in winter, and the gulls and black ducks destroyed many more; but still they were so abundant that there was no opportunity for growth, and their size has increased but little, averaging now but a little over an inch. In the area alongside, where the clammers have been digging almost daily, the clams are two or three inches in length, and many barrels have been taken out of this rather limited area. The soil is similar in the two localities, the currents of water striking the two about equal in strength; the only difference has been that in one the soil has been dug over continually, in the other not at all. In this case certainly the advantage is with the well-dug-over area. And yet, on the other hand, the new set of the present year is found among the thickly populated area of the protected portion, and hardly at all in the portion disturbed by digging. In the latter locality the young clams were unable to set because the upper layers were made so loose and shifting by the continual digging, or if they REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 107 did set, they were immediately covered over so deeply by the diggers that they were destroyed. Another case in point was observed at Greene’s Island. On the east shore of this island is a long flat which in 1901 was set so thickly with clams that 7,910 were counted in a single shovelful. In 1902 and 1903 the clams from this set were abundant, and the shore was dug over continually by clammers. In 1904 the clam set was good on this area, though less abundant. In 1905, however, there were a few large clams, but not a single clam from the set of 1904, which was so abundant, as noted above, on every other shore in the Bay. The cause of this is not difficult to see. The constant digging had not only buried the young clams so deeply that they were destroyed, but had left the upper layers of soil loose and shifting, and no clams can set under these conditions. In this case, then, the constant digging has practically exterminated the clams. So we must be careful about concluding as to the results of digging over a clam bed. It will be recalled that almost every shore has a good set occasionally, and then for a few years there seems to be no new set. When the clams become quite scarce again, and digging ceases for a while, the set appears again. Summing up, then, the apparent conditions caused by digging over the clams, we find that continual digging may be beneficial to a clam bed by thinning out a too thickly set area and thus promoting more rapid growth in those that are left; but that, on the contrary, continual digging is prejudicial to a new set of clams. A sort of rotation of areas, then, would seem to provide the ideal condition, allowing certain undisturbed shores to start a good set, while others are being dug over; and then, by changing the areas, provide for a new set on the exhausted territory. That the conditions maintained above seem to hold throughout the Bay is shown by the facts brought out in the table below: 108 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. CONDITION OF CLAM GROUNDS VISITED IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, 1905. LOCALITY. Academy Cove, Wickford.......... Bullock/s:;Pointes 4.252 cece skoda eee Conanicut, west shore............. ColdiSpring Beach:...2.6 2.2520. Cormeliusis. (SSW. Et-))..- oscar Cornelius Is. (elsewhere)........... MI CGVON. ete hey ee MISHING\ COVEs. cc celelh cree ae caren Greene’s Is. (east shore)........... Kickemuit (west bend)............ Kickemuit (elsewhere)............ Little Tree Pt. to Scragg Rock..... Mill Cove, south shore, Wickford... Mill Cove, west shore, Wickford... . Mill Cove, north shore, Wickford... RoplarsE omic ince ctecsece 6.s/s hotels Prudence Is. (east shore).......... Prudence Is. (west shore)..........) Patience Is. (east shore)........... Pa weuxet. 0. csi tobe oe slnerssiece Quonset Pt. to Greenwich Bay..... umstick Pé. Gwest)io-osse.sieaciee Sakonnet River (upper east shore). . PAULA ONG sie es yshelesels ous ciegeierees pee Sheep ben Cove: ses nen ore cee Waist Creelereic, <1 tes)-i oyster Ce erete SET IN THE ABUNDANCE OF CLAM THE S1IzE AND ADUNDANCE OF THE SET or 1904, as OBSERVED IN 1905. 1904. Extremely thick. . Occasionally good. Very good....... 1905. Scattering.. \‘Scattering.. WeWirsccince Size. Smalls... Undersized . ‘Undersized . Undersized . Undersized . Abundance. Good. Good. Extremely thick. Good. Good. Good. None. Very good. Fair. Occasionally good. Good. Fair. Good. Good. Your Commission is continually called upon to give information and instruction as to the methods worked out by them of successfully a REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 109 propagating clams on a commercial scale. Although, owing to the peculiar conditions regarding shore rights, it is impossible for in- dividuals in this State to secure land for this purpose, yet in other States this is possible, and several such attempts are at present in progress. These will be reported on more fully at some later time. 110 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Vil. THe Errorts To PREVENT THE ILLEGAL TAKING OF SHORT LOBSTERS. Two deputies are still employed by your Commission to enforce the lobster laws. Even though it is impossible to detect and punish every offender, yet the results obtained entirely justify the efforts in this direction. Undoubtedly the influence of this line of endeavor has resulted in saving great numbers of short lobsters and egg lobsters. Out of the large number of lobsters received from Nova Scotia during the year, 5,170 short lobsters were seized and liberated in Rhode Island waters. The following table indicates the prosecutions and fines made un- der the Lobster Law in 1904 and 1905. Date. Name. Location. |Shorts. Eggs.| Unmarked cars. Case. Amount. Total. WOO re: esas svensoter seers ieretaille elew cle cvernoene .. 66 Ores ahevers teselevereberete Settled..... $175 1905. May 23.../G. Franks...... Nar Eeaeety OU eecs te Unmarked cars. .|Settled.... $65 May 23...|R. G. Burdick.. Nac rAcaneett | bods asl Bosse Unmarked cars. .|Settled.... 20 algae oe ee Ci eee LOM Srahiww aiid Ree es See Not settled. 375 JUV A G:2)) Ue baLrisssee ser |Jamestown ae ee Pees REA a sl Oto mea icy & \Settled.... 90 Total. MOOD cera yak ot reecc eet ed herons va oe eee OQAE ec cie. ils avs sleet oars eters |e tomer ects $550* *One case involving 75 short lobsters and a fine of $375 is not yet settled. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 111 VIII. Tur PROPAGATION OF LOBSTER FRY FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF LOBSTERS IN THE WATERS OF THE Strate. METHODS OF ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION AND CULTIVATION. LOBSTER CULTURE IN 1905. BY EARNEST W. BARNES, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE WICKFORD EXPERIMENT STATION. The first mature lobster eggs were scraped into a hatching bag about noon on the 21st of May, and by 1 P. M. of the same day nearly all had hatched. These eggs were obtained from one egg lobster, and no more lobsters with mature eggs were found till the 24th. The hatching then proceeded quite rapidly. The last lot of eggs was hatched on the 21st of July. By August Ist all the fry had reached the fourth stage, except a few weak undersized ones. Consequently, after a continuous run of 71 days, the engine was shut down and the season closed. The work usually closes by the middle or last of July, and it is quite remarkable that the season should last till the first of August. The weather conditions throughout the season were very good. The absence of any bad storms and the many bright warm days made the season one of the best the station has had. Among the improvements which were installed this year are the following: WINDOW IMPROVEMENTS. Instead of covering the windows with scrim, a copper wire netting of twenty meshes to the inch was used. To prevent its becoming broken by the frequent bending which is apt to occur in the handling of the bag, it was mounted in a wooden frame, and this was fastened 112 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. to the edge of the canvas about the window. The screening was a decided improvement over the scrim windows used in 1904, as it allowed better circulation and was not so overgrown with diatoms. It is probable that the fry obtained much of their fuzzy growths from the overgrown scrim windows. ADJUSTMENT OF THE REARING BAGS. Improvements were further made in the handling of the canvas bags. The vertical gas pipes which kept the bags down in the water in previous years were discarded, and a haul-down post of 4.x 4 hard pine was bolted into the corners of each pool. A hole was gouged out in the lower end and a rope run through and spliced so as to leave a free end. This end was fastened to the corner of the outer square bottom-frame, which was of gas pipe as before. The top of the bag was held up by ropes passed through the corners and the middle of the sides. The bottom was pulled down by the haul-down ropes. This method proved very satisfactory. A’small float for washing the bags was made, which was very convenient and useful. (Plates XIX, XX, XXI.) PLUGGING THE LOBSTERS. Various methods were tried for preventing the egg lobsters, when placed in cars, from fighting. Plugging, as commonly employed by the fishermen, was found to be the best method, and the injury caused the lobster was of no importance. The plugs were removed when the lobsters were liberated. BREAKWATER. The idea of using deep lobster cars for a breakwater to the hatching bags was tried and proved very successful. Most all waves and swells were effectually broken by them. HATCHING CRATES. Very few eggs were scraped from the lobsters this year. The REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 113 hatching of the eggs while still on the mother can not be improved upon by artificial means; therefore it was found more satisfactory to confine the lobsters whose eggs were ready to hatchin flat crates, three feet square and four inches deep, made of lathes about one inch apart (Plate XXII). These were then placed in the rearing bags and removed as soon as a sufficient number of fry was obtained in the bag. The injury caused to the fry from being thrown by the current against the crates was prevented by allowing the crates to float with the current. They were, however, loosely fastened around the paddle shaft so as to prevent them from knocking against the sides of the bags. The hatching crates were used for two different purposes. First to prevent the loss from eggs collecting in a mass at the bottom and spoiling; second, to keep the age of the fry in a bag within a certain limit, depending on the length of time the crates are kept in the bag. REGULATION OF THE CURRENT. The use of the copper screening for the windows necessitated a different adjustment of the angle of the paddle in order to produce a proper current. A current just sufficient to keep the food and the lobsters suspended in the water was found to be best. It was further observed that the proper adjustment of the paddle, and consequently the current, kept the fry reasonably free from growths of diatoms, fungi, ete., prevented the windows from becoming clogged with food particles and lobster casts, and improved the condition of the bag in general. SHADING THE BAGS. Shading the rearing bags was also tried, but as yet no positive results have been reached. The records show a slight lengthening of the third stage in the lots shaded. This may not be caused, however, by the shading. 15 114 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. SUMMARY OF RESULTS. To briefly summarize the results,it may be said that as many fourth stage lobsters were reared during the summer of 1905 as in all the previous years combined. Over 103,000 lobsterlings were counted out of the rearing bags. The estimation which is usually made, that one fourth stage lobster is equivalent to 1,000 in the first stage, would make the results of the season’s work equal to turning over of 103 million newly hatched fry. The percentage from individually counted lots carried through from the first to the fourth stage surpassed that of all other years for similar numbers. In 1901, 50 per cent. was obtained from a counted lot of 1,000 fry, all of which were at least two days old. This season 48.2 per cent. was obtained from 20,000 which were counted out just after they had hatched. A number of lots gave a percentage of over 40. These results were obtained in spite of the fact that a great deal of attention was turned from the regular work of rearing to various lines of experiment. LIBERATION OF TAGGED LOBSTERS. The total number of tagged lobsters (Plate XXV) liberated in 1905 was 385. Sixty-two of these were caught and the tags returned. Page 115 contains a table giving the data in regard to them. Itisa rather significant fact that 13 of these were caught in the first seven days of freedom. One was caught within 24 hours, after having travelled a distance of four miles. Another lobster, liberated at the same time, travelled 11 miles in five days. It is further to be noted, because of its bearing on the question as to how soon the lobsters molt after their eggs hatch, that one tagged lobster was captured after having been free for 59 days. The egg lobsters retained in the cars at the Station do not, as a rule, begin to molt earlier than the last of August. -_ a REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. ReEcorps oF TAGGED LOBSTERS. 115 | Tag Number. 2021 2023 2026 2029 2048 2052 2071 2076 2078 2079 2008 2020 2039 2041 2048 2058 2002 2012 2022 |. 2176 2183 2090 2098 2152 2096 3068 3093 3082 3046 3043 3064 LIBERATED. Locality. Mill Cove, Wickford.......... ae RECAPTEURED. iS a Al 2 | ee Date. Locality. Date. = 5 aNd June 13/Dutch Island Harbor... |July 1/18) 6 ‘“* 13}Wickford Light........ June 20} 7] 1 ‘** 13|Cold Spring Rock...... “ 16} 3} 14 ** 13/Wickford Light....... 20 bedi |e ‘* 13/Little Tree Point....... eee O12 same S| Ox sland. ia. <8 2s 7] RS) ‘* 13|Narragansett Pier......|July 12/29/12 ‘** 13|Two Brothers Rock....|June 24/11] 1 SS DIACkOCK. «. 5)... « July 25/12/24 oa} ee a eae ae ete “ 21!] 8} 24 fea Hox Islands. i. ccc. os June 20} 6} 3 “ 14| Wickford Light........ ee Pala) 041M! eeevl4| Boxe Islands. -.2--). << “ 19) 5) 3 ‘* 14|Little Tree Point....... “ 22) 8}. 2 ay LA pe eV aaeeea ae “22| 8| 2 OO DICT Beas ee So acaitys ae “ 22) 8) 2 + 22 Wickford Wipe atin ae ee ore 28] 6] 1 aeeoolboplar bombs... 5. July 1) 9) 1 ‘« 22|Little Tree Point....... June 28] 6} 2 oo ox Islands. «4. < <4. Aug. 3/42! 3 se 22iWihale Rock:. 40... . July 2)10)104 ** 22|Below Dutch Island... .|Aug. 20/59] 7 ‘* 22|Narragansett Pier...... July 12/20)12 wae Eoplar -Point..mieer =e. oe 210) ““ 22|Below Dutch Island.....|Aug. 20|59| 7 July 13|Bristol Ferry........../Aug. 12/30} 4 > al} 7 BAO Taeitas ha): ** 12/30} 4 “YM bee" avout serene a TSN SUE: ““ 13/S. W. Prudence Island. .|July 20) 7| 8 als} rs * ra a 2OleaS pets | Sristol Hercycss. 4.4.52 Aug. 3/20) 4 General Direction. . of E. Sos Fe Ec se ees eel ee sl ele aa a3 116 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Rercorps oF TacGEep Lopsters.—Concluded. 6 o . |e LIBERATED. RECAPTURED. m || = § . Al = = 8 a|\s 2 - Bee z alge tf: ee Locality. Date. Locality. Date. || & @ 3 Sie eh zia| oS 3225 |North of North Point.........] ‘' 15/Plum Beach........... July 16] 1] 4 |S. W. 3199 en ae Ly ih Pete ‘* 15|/Below Dutch Island Aug. 20/36| 6 |S. W. 3152 ‘ Oe Ls ae Pals) vi eg *« 20/36| 6 |S. W. 3165 ‘ es ral ee “ *« 20/36] 6 |S. W. SLOG ie ee 1S V5 Rosevisland’: 0.0 2..2.- July 22) 7| 6 |S. E. S222 qe Cs a erm hag ‘““ 15|Narragansett Pier......| ‘‘ 20] 5)11 |S. W. 3252 |North of North Pt., Conanicut) ‘‘ 15)Gould Island.......... 27/12) 4 |S. E. 3239 ele Dc aR: ee a Es Iss re ig tas Ad) Rohest Aug. 2/18] 4 |S. E. 3097 | ‘ any - ss ‘* 15|Rose Island....... SP STO Gy | sae 3111 wo : os : ** 15\Greene’s Ledge, Hope ; ; Islands yess see rele Akai linden ING: 3166 ; * ‘“ 15)\Greene’s Ledge, Hope ‘ Island 9s ee oe eligi aN Sole |: : 4 c ©) 26 l|Resedslandesss so onooe OS UNS ish 13h BPS He Se “ : ‘* 26|Boat House Point..... . “ _ 5}10] 4 |S. E. 3301 |Wickford Harbor............ ‘* 26|Dutch Island.......... “ 7|12) 54/S. E. 3253 of BE EN Snag bi eee! ‘‘ 96|Plum Beach........... 9/14] 44/5. E. 3275 NS RA ts es ge Pe SEO ee FD Sortie nigh ‘« 21/26] 44|S. E. 3221 ss BEY URE sean tee i SAG oe De eet eieeatteitars vets “ 12/17) 44/S. E. 3272 Sean SEE eR te ‘* 26\Wickford Light........ “ 17|22|} 3/S. E. Number berated sac eicctaks Bee Ae cee teceere hs en ites here 385 Number tags returned with date of capture...................2.--05- 49 Number tags returned without datenc aioe dees ce nee: rere 13 Number caught: first’ day atter liberationn.....--+5..-)-\: eer secs sence 1 Number caught first week after liberation........................+..-.- 13 Greatest number ‘of daystireesy«cccattecxe eke eueel se clckals ores rte cnet ce eyo eueret 59 Fastest travel, No. 3225 SHORT LOBSTERS. There was a greater number of small lobsters caught last season than there has been before for a great many years. It is quite sig- nificant that this reported increase in number comes almost entirely from that part of the Bay where the Commission has liberated its REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. PTZ. fourth stage lobsters. Because of its nearness, the region about Conanicut Island has received the greater part of the output in the past years. Walter H. Munroe, who sets lobster pots along the west shore of Conanicut, reports that during the past year he very seldom pulled in his pots but that four or five small lobsters would slip out between the slats. At Dutch Island Harbor, somewhat near the central part of the island, the lobsters under nine inches are so numerous that the lobster deputies have had considerable difficulty in preventing their sale. It is the common opinion that, in spite of their vigilance, barrels of “shorts’’ have found their way into the market from this place. The two deputies are very much handi- capped in their efforts by having such an extensive shore to cover, especially considering that their only means of getting to the pots is in what boats they can get on the nearest shore. The great number of small-sized lobsters looks very promising for the future supply of lobsters in Narragansett Bay, and extremely encouraging for the scheme of rearing used at Wickford. RECORDS. A careful record of each lot of lobsters, with conditions under which they were reared, was made and filed in a card catalogue. From this catalogue the following tables are taken: 118 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. LENGTH OF LARVAL STAGES IN 1905.* | Bs Ta roRAT ORR. NuMBER oF Daysin Dir- nS ca FERENT STAGES. 2 3 ae #8 Begun. Ended. Nl z A ; Be oe Le Extremes. | Average. Sie ite Rede & 3 2S 1 May (21 seers. aune te: . 53-56 57.4 12 6 3 21 2 |May 24..... June 13.....| 54-56 57.6 9 6 3 19 3 |May 24..... June 19..... 52-70 60. 9 6 4 19 Sy |May 26-0 on June 23...-. 52-70 .5 61.3 a if 4 18 8 |Jumne 5..... June 19.....| 54-77 63.3 7 4 4 15 9 |June 5..... June 27..... 54-77 64.8 7 5 5 Pz TOR Sune. 7... . June -26..... 54-77 65. f 5 4 16 11 | June’ OF... June 26..... 54-77 65.9 6 A 4d 14 12 |June 10..... July.) Tass. 3 60-77 66.8 6 4 4 14 -13.jJune 12..... June 29..... 60-77 67. 5 4 4 13. 14 |June 16..... Duby lines ee O2—018, 68. 5 3 5 13. Lenisune. 19 es... DULY ye Diss cre 61-77 68. 4 3 5 12 16 |June 21..... Hibliten Shon Ao 61-77 69. 5 3 5 13. Wa June 20.5... Aieihie TNR ge 61-79 70. 4 4 6 14 18 |June 25....:|July 6..... 61-77 69. 5 2 4 11 19 |June 28..... aaly, 10%. - 61-79 70.7 5 2 4 11 20 |June 29..... suly 12. 13% 64-79 (hike 5 3 5 13 21 |June 29..... Duly. US a 64-79 71.2 5 2 4 iL D2a ine 29s. sac) Uly wel. - co). 64-79 71.4 5 2 4 atk Zoey! SOLE ee July 19..... 66-82 74.4 5 2 5 12 26 July) fies... ey Oe 69-82 75. | 4 2 4 10 Bal WARN ah eicaear ulye24 ven 69-82 74.4 4 3 4 it 28y uly Al... DULY: 24 69-82 75.1 4 2 4 10 The aveage number of days in the first stage was 5 and ranged from 4 to 12. The average number of days in the second stage was 3 and ranged from 2 to 6. The average number of days in the third stage was 4 and ranged from 4 to 6. The average number of days to reach fourth stage was 13.8 and ranged from 10 to 21. *JI¢ must be borne in mind that the different lots were subjected to different conditions which may have had an equal or greater influence than the temperature in regulating the number of days in the various stages. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF LIBERATION OF FOURTH STAGE INLAND FISHERIES. 119 LOBSTERS, 1905. Date. Locality. Number. June: 13)... |Hast, Poplar} Pointra-ee emer 400 June 26. .|Little Tree“Point.......:........ 3,000 June 27. .|Hast boplar Pomte enone 9,000 June’ 28. .\|\Wicktord!@ovews.aad 1c ee 200 July 6....|Point Judith Pond, Billings’ Cove. 15,000 July, Tee Ryerss Neck, below Rocky Point} 10,000 July. L3e. .|Portsmoutheens eee ere 10,000 winlya teen |Kickemuit Rivers Socens Pepe 15,000 July. U7 5.2 lGonaniete Taland’ ss. cor see 12,000 duly; 21... ‘Dutch Island Hiarborsaseces eee. 20,000 July 29... Conanicut Island? 2.04: cf Ae | 6,000 | Total liberated, ise cases | 100,600 Used for experimental purposes, ete......... | 2,972 Total counted Out--—-ee eee | 103 ,572* Character of Shore. Rocky. Very rocky, abundance of rockweed. Rocky. Muddy bottom. \Stony, light seaweed. |Rocky. Rocky, rockweed. /Rocky, rockweed. Rocky ledge, rockweed below. Muddy bottom. 'Muddy bottom. *This number is that of the fourth stage lobsters actually counted. there were many first, second and third stage lobsters In addition to these preserved for study, and some fourth dobsters were liberated in the cove by accident to the bags. Total Number of Fourth Stage Lobsters Reared Each Year Since 1900. COREE Poe tle LON oO. CO ceo ecco oer re: ote) [oie le viat! outer keh iaiisi aon iellmwaiialln “nlits| Tay ele) 6 ©: “eyayyfe) ©) Je) a) aly my ot ole) Laie mM eMieMieiMelra ie fietabla!'s) ‘e|fe =) 12) @) ole, eb ievareawelrem oiiwitetleltel sflerialinl w/e) 6, 6 ie, \6 3,425 8,974 27,300 13,500 50,597 103,572 METHODS OF PROTECTING AND PROPAGATING THE LOBSTER, WITH A BRIEF OUTLINE OF ITS NATURAL HISTORY. ° PLATES XIIT ro XXIX anp XXXVI. BY EARNEST W. BARNES. ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE WICKFORD EXPERIMENT STATION. TABLE OF CONTENTS. NTE O CI CEIOM Ay Vsrats A kas ER eee EN on p. 2 a eines esa ae 122 Lame atural Hustory ot: the bhobster aac co -. ss) sce tee atrne seer ace 123 fl gD stra tebionsA2s. 2 eActee eee ce S.-+(s se ccs oe eee 123 2." Natural Home and! Migrations. 20)))) 04.2 02s 3 ee ok 124 Se Badd, Pe sere eect tea a ee nea asia PCE clon tee CRN a Sey oe 124 4... sbengeth of sbife. es «ol ere etc ee casa eaten ee aS aes 125 Bea Molting and «Growthy..2. . 2 ate ee oc ce ee ae 125 Guy Regeneration. 2° 5 39sin6 oe Gag Oo eee» aio Rea eae ices ae 126 ies exe Maturity ose e See nee oro ene ae eee ee 126 Saeopavuiing A abits 324) o8 aul ctw Ave yess See e © eee pS ete 127 Or palbaTaA SEAT CS ho os .cifte ok en eis See OL ce eae eas geen Ev 127 10:-jypelolesrentabersod 002.0005 ce pak ene ne cit een ae eee oe 128 11. Some Peculiar Means of Self-Preservation..................... 129 12.. -Sensibittiy toweipht aoe... os gE oe ce as nd wre ween sie eee 129 13: ESTES EVAR enciisre riley o'SS. 5s ecn art te er ens Ea en een eee 130 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 121 14) Decreasein Abundance of Lobsters....... 4.52. 05. 0 eo ed 130 II. Methods Employed to Prevent Extermination...................... 131 GLO UChIOR IEEE Te RAO) als As oye the oy etal oe sn ht ee ee oes a ae 131 ALD egal Ries Cees et tars eh sents ees atoms SS Are a OA et 131 1. “Protectionusoamier Lopsterss: Viele 1.12/12 2a 2 Shea dk De 131 2. Protection of EATEN LODE GTS ays ee aos LAA otal ve 131 3... Pratechionvor LargesLobsters) 1/5/07. 05 so. 2d seins estat bal: 132 Ab ASD Otilemloltnibes tase hte in Thee eh ahd saps taee Sn cape eee hy, 132 Fayieommd 1305/2) VTE: ae NOT ER oti Oya ton Seen er st OY Od NE Pt 133 G2 brewempuomats Mubilstieiie: ve Aly. : 2 /sh) Seps)s elie clfa ae oie aba ste ah o'adehehs 133 Gx w LORE CPULALIONS). os ey. sa) lo «Sams bot oh Ws eee seid s dal Se 133 $5 Giliabulenenvor Lobsterpiawaies: 42s coss00ks 4 ts 25 e as cals 2 cue 133 Bose Aapine mre Wine A} red Sasol evs Whit. ape k cleats ise cecal ney, bnew olgel a. 135 C. Hatching and Rearing as Developed by the Rhode Island Com- [PINE C EL, oe Sealey ete RES A IER Rh) oy ene RE Rete Fee 136 Ls. MU aaNet oS 2 fares van! BEC nye) ees Dongs Wes ME eR Ok ha oo 136 25 | SUnUcrunesorgh nes Hh loatserays ten ene Shs citiolars manera teks sha nese. 138 3. ) iiestimarme ring (Gearing a cece ae ty. 2 ee Cady oa dias, : 138 4. Constmiction of the Rearing Bags. J. .2j2- 6... eee eee tk 140 5. Construction and Adjustment of the Paddles.................. 142 6. ‘Qiizumapathe Boe Lobsters 36. fares cece gs ed oe dee <3 144 7.) EVER ita eet RED Des rere pki: hay eee get ene ae ey Sachs able gf's 146 8. PReeasean me Minve Saha arts ea ote Mere crn tbls Siok) seat hard - 146 9. Length of Time Required to Reach the Fourth Stage............ 148 10. iberattanrol the Lobsterlines: 7, 4s. 2 act e.g 32 aids jee ee 148 11s diberaitontof the Hee Wobstersijic 422 « ‘ , : a J A ie eae We ’ Pde v DO % amt 1 f > oe AS 4 ih 5 ie & a ut a if 7 iat eagay : ia ’) - ra’ ¥ a4, i] [= 4 4 , i , »% > is Py 5 7 = nr . wy) ‘sy - wey re 4 > rae St eas Y +. Ve ATW) a i le re A “ “ae - Res ve a iam’ ay y >: TN. ‘ ‘Seq B SUJAIpP JO poyjow oy} SMOYS ‘ssvq 04} SULUvA[N UI pasn yBoyY [[VUS—]XX ALVIg t, wid gO) ; . ‘ “4 Fyn ct ya REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 141 As soon as the fry ina bag have reached the fourth stage and have been removed, or sooner if its condition requires, the bag is taken up and thoroughly cleaned. As we have seen, the bags in a short time become more or less foul. Most of the fouling occurs at the bottom, where the silt collects. This is the least dangerous to the lobster, as the current keeps them from the bottom, but of course the fouling tends to rot the canvas, and if the bags are left in the water with the filth from hatching still in them, the bottoms will soon rot out. If the sides of the bag become dirty, however, it is of the most serious consequence to the fry, as will be described later. As yet it is im- possible to prevent this entirely. Soaking the canvas in a solution of Stockholm tar in gasoline preserves it and, in a measure, prevents the fouling. This is an excellent preparation for the bottoms, although it darkens the bag and interferes with observation. As regards the sides, it is another matter. Here the whiteness is of a decided advantage to the fry, for if white they tend to avoid it and consequently the current is not so likely to throw them against the sides and so infect them with the same growths that have fouled the bag. Washing and drying the bags is the best expedient yet found for preserving them and keeping them in good condition. As soon as the bag commences to be foul, so that the lobsters become endangered, the fry should be removed and the bag taken up and washed. Usu- ally, however, the bag will rear one set of larvee before becoming foul. Plates XIX, XX, and X XI show the process of washing and drying. A small float with a pool 12 feet square is used for the purpose. When the lobsters have been dipped out of the bag which is to be washed, this float is brought up alongside the rearing float; the dirty bag is then unfastened and floated under the outside barrel alley and up under the small float. The bag is fastened at the surface of the water, and the sides are scrubbed within and without with stiff brooms. The bag is then raised on an incline (Plate XIX), and the dirt scrubbed loose and washed out by water thrown on the bag. 142 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. (Plate XX.) It is sometimes necessary to turn the bag upside down and scrub, or even scrape, the underside of the bottom, as in the ten or twelve days that the bag has been in the water the sea squirts (Molgula) and barnacles may set thickly upon it. After the careful scrubbing and washing the bag is pulled up out of the water, the sides raised, and the bag left to dry (Plate XXI). The drying takes but two or three hours on a clear, warm summer day. The - drying of the salt water tends to whiten the bags considerably. 5. Construction and Adjustment of the Paddles. The paddles used at Wickford are two-bladed, not unlike those used overhead in restaurants. (Plate XVIII.) Each blade is made of one-inch cypress and is 8 inches wide at the end nearest the paddle shaft, and tapers to about 4 inches at the outer end. The blades are fastened by clamps to a piece of ?-inch galvanized iron pipe which is placed on the under side. Between the two blades is a T coupling, into which a vertical galvanized iron pipe is screwed. This vertical pipe is used as a shaft for that part of the paddle which is under water, and connects directly by a coupling to a short piece of one- inch shafting connecting with the gears. The paddle used at present is broadly beveled on each side, though the donble beveling is un- necessary. The length of the paddle should be sufficient to clear the bag by about 6 inches when revolving, and should be raised about the same distance above the bottom of the bag when this is drawn up by the current. The blades of the paddle should, furthermore, be painted white so that the lobsters will avoid them. Too great care can not be exercised in the proper adjustment of the paddle. With a paddle of the above width and length ten revolutions per minute are sufficient. The angle which the paddle should oppose to the water is a matter which requires experience to determine. It is, however, a very important factor. Many times in two lots of larve, under apparently similar conditions, one of them will appear clean and healthy while the other will be covered with REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 143 growths. In one a large percentage will survive, while in the other the mortality will be high. The main cause will be the difference in the current of water. By the angle of the paddle the amount of current is determined, and the current determines the amount of food which is accessible to the lobster, the extent of cannibalism, the ease with which they molt, the amount of diatoms and other parasitic growths on the fry, and those undeterminable factors which go to make up conditions of health and vigor. That the proper amount of current should affect the accessibility of the food and to a certain extent prevent their eating one another is easily seen. That it should have an influence on the ease of molting is also apparent. When the lobster molts it is, for a short time, more or less helpless. A strong current throws it against the sides of the bag or forces it against the screenings. These conditions naturally do not favor molting. On the other hand, if the current is very weak, while it may be sufficient to keep an active larva moving, yet when the molting period arrives the larva will sink to the bottom and be rolled along with whatever food, silt, diatoms, and fungus spores have collected there. The current must be so adjusted as to prevent both of these difficulties. Why it should affect the parasitic growths on the fry is not so easily seen. Because of the current continually running in the bags, there can not help but be a considerable collection of diatoms, etc., on the inside of the canvas, and consequently in the water within the bags. The number in the water within the bags, however, cannot be much greater than in the water outside; at least not enough greater to explain the abundant growths of diatoms which sometimes occur. The probability is that the fry are infected with these organisms by their contact with the sides of the bags. With a current great enough to continually throw the fry against the sides of the bags, the opportunity for their infection would be very great; while with a current of less intensity the natural instinct of the fry to shun a white surface would prevent this to a great extent. That this is actually the case is shown by 144 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. the fact that frequently two lots of fry, under exactly similar condi- tions as regards cleanliness of the bags, ete., will, with different strengths of current, turn out, one clean and healthy and with a low mortality, the other covered with diatoms, etce., weak, and with a high mortality. ° Other unfavorable circumstances attend a strong current. Ex- periments with fry of all stages, conducted carefully in jars, showed that all through the larval period the lobster is negatively rheotropic, 7. e., will endeavor to swim in opposition to the current. Efforts to oppose the current are more marked the stronger the current. Ina very feeble current the lobster will, to a certain extent, act as if 1 quiet, water; when the current is strong, but not too strong, it wiil oppose it, provided other things, such as the pursuit of food, reaction to light, etc., do not interfere. Of course in a too strong current the larvee will be prevented by the mere force of the current from swimming against it. This reaction to current is most pronounced in the fourth stage, as in that stage the fry are very strong swimmers. The first, second, and third stages swim very feebly, and are naturally turned over and over by a strong current. They will continue to struggle against it, however, though without avail. This certainly can not be favorable for their development. When turned over and over by a too strong current it is impossible for them to secure food, and starvation results. Although from what has been said it will be seen how important a matter the proper adjustment of-the current is, yet the selection of the most favorable current can be made only after some experience has been gained by actual experiment. 6. Obtaining the Egg Lobsters. At Wickford the egg lobsters are purchased in the spring from the lobstermen at the regular retail price. It is the custom at some stations to buy the egg lobsters throughout the entire year, and retain them in pounds or cars. Ifa suitable place is at hand this is of course *SoBQ (0) U je H— V t) 4 J ou (0) u I L Or TyIS I od U Il 9481 U 9) -3 UU . je } BH xX aL is I d REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 145 preferable, as it creates a market for the egg lobsters and takes away the incentive to scrape off the green eggs; also, since the time in which they may be collected is longer, a greater number of egg lobsters can be secured. In case the egg lobsters are shipped some distance, care should be taken not to allow the ice to come in contact with the lobsters, as the fresh water from the melting ice will kill most of the eggs. If it is necessary to use ice in shipment, it should be so arranged that neither the ice nor the fresh water come in contact with the lobsters or with the eggs. The lobsters obtained are confined in covered cars divided into two compartments, each five feet square, and with a water depth of two feet. As the lobsters which are to be put in these compartments are more or less crowded together, it is necessary to secure their claws in some way to prevent fighting, which may result in killing or mutilating one another, or at least in scraping off the eggs. Tying their claws with string or wire, winding with canvas bandages, or putting on mittens made of some cheap cloth, and plugging the claws with wooden plugs have all been tried. Of these three the winding with canvas bandages is preferable; but the bandages invariably work off from one or two, and then the others are at their mercy. The surest way is to insert wooden plugs just outside of the movable jaw of their claws. This at first was avoided, for fear of injuring the lobsters, but it was found that very little if any injury was caused by this plugging. The use of the claw is very quickly restored after the plug is removed, and the lobster seems to be none the worse for it. This practice is employed by lobstermen everywhere where lobsters are kept in cars. As the season progresses, usually about the first of May, the lobsters are looked over. One who has had experience can tell at a glance about how soon the eggs of a lobster will hatch. The lobsters that will hatch their eggs about the same time are put in compart- -ments together. Too much care can not be exercised in keeping them picked over. 19 146 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 7. Hatching the Eggs. As soon as a lobster’s eggs reach the point where they will hatch in two or three hours, the lobsters are transferred to flat crates (three feet square and four inches deep) made of laths about an inch apart. These crates, which must float when filled with lobsters, are placed in the rearing bags and the paddle started. (Plate X XII.) Care should be taken not to permit the lobsters remaining so long in the retaining cars that hatching commences there, for if this occurs many fry will be lost. Yet at the same time only those whose eggs are on the point of hatching should be put into the bags, for this enables one to get a sufficient number of fry in the bag in a very few hours, and also all the fry are about the same age. Naturally this is a very important factor because of their cannibalistic habits, for if lobster fry of assorted sizes are in the same bag the danger of their devouring one another is much greater than as if they are all of the same age, although this danger is reduced to a minimum in the rearing bags. The crate, also, to a certain extent, impedes the circulation of the water, and consequently the sooner removed the better. Besides this, the longer the egg lobsters remain in the crates the more un- hatched eggs are scraped off into the bags, and though many of these are subsequently hatched, they stand no show against their older fellows. The crates should be allowed to float around with the cur- rent, as many fry would be lost by being dashed against a stationary crate. It is better, however, to fasten the crates loosely about the paddle shaft so that it can not damage the bag by striking against it. 8. Feeding. Feeding is another operation which requires much attention. (Plate XXIII.) The lobster fry in all stages eat ravenously and with- out much selection of food. Almost anything in the way of animal food will serve them fora meal. Their cannibalistic habits have been ‘AAJ J94SQo] 04} Surposjy Jo poyjou oy} SMOYUS—"]TIIXX FLVIg we a7) Tak ly REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 147 referred to. In confinement in the rearing bags the food item be- comes of tremendous importance. Molting three times in from 10 to 14 days, while in each molt important structural changes occur, the lobster demands regular and almost continuous feeding. Their feeding apparently does not take place chiefly at night, as in the adult, but on the contrary they seem to feed most frequently during the day. The warmth of the water and the bright sun seem to favor their growth, or at least the rapidity of molting. Lobster fry very often, when taken from the rearing bag and placed in a shallow dish for observation, will molt in a very short time if it is a bright sunny day. This occurs so often as to lead one to conclude that the warmer tem- perature of the water in the dish hastens the moltmg. Since these conditions of temperature favor growth, they must undoubtedly encourage more abundant feeding in order to supply proper material for growth. But we are not to conclude that the lobster does not feed during the night. Flash-lights thrown on the water in the rear- ing bags at night have shown fry eating pieces of clam. The fact that the proportion of those feeding was not as great as in the day- time must not be taken as an indication that the lobster feeds principally by day, for a sudden light greatly excites the lobster and may have caused the dropping of food. The practice of feeding the fry as frequently during the night as during the day has been carried on at Wickford. The kind of food used is determined, not so much by the preference of the lobster, as by the requirements of the scheme of rearing. The fry feed quite as readily on one kind of food as another. Fish, perhaps, is as much preferred as anything; but it is very oily and fills the water with grease. This interferes with observation and is unfavorable to a healthy condition of the fry: Moreover, those particles which fall to the bottom of the bag rapidly decay, fouling the water and rotting the bag. Soft-shell clams seem to be the best available food. The advantages are lightness, requiring little current to keep it up in the water, absence of oil, and are less likely to decay. The fry eat it very readily. The preparation of the clams consists in cutting them from 148 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. the shells and chopping them finely with a meat chopper. The whole clam is usually employed, not even discarding the tough snout, as the lobsters seem to pounce upon pieces of this almost as quickly as on the softer parts. In past years it has been the custom to sift the erindings through wire netting, and only use the very finest, such as would give a milky look to the water; but the past season all the grindings were used. In some instances the fry were seen to pass by the smaller particles and seize a larger fragment. Of course the par- ticles must not be too large, otherwise they are not kept properly suspended by the current. In regard to the time of feeding, it was the practice last year to feed every three hours throughout the twenty-four. This seems to have been quite satisfactory. The practice of keeping the fry continually supplied with food should be considered of more importance than regular feeding periods. 9. Length of Time Required to Reach the Fourth Stage. The length of time required to reach the fourth stage from the time of hatching varies at Wickford from 10 to 21 days. The temperature of the water is, in a great measure, responsible for this variation, but careful records kept during 1905 seem to show that, while it is the most important, it is not the only factor. It will be necessary to experiment further in order to fully establish the importance of the various factors, yet it may be said that the following certainly do exert considerable influence on the duration of the first three stages. In the order of apparent importance they are: temperature, food, current, density, and light. The effects of temperature, food and current have already been described. Of the influence of the density of the water little is known; after a warm rain, however, molting seems to progress more rapidly. The importance of the light fac- tor is as yet undetermined. 10. Liberation oj the Lobsterlings. As fast as the fry reach the fourth stage they are dipped out 7n- “Adj 1048q0| Sutjue[d Jo poyjou ayy SMOYUS—AIXX ALVTd REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 149 dividually and put by themselves in a retaining bag. As soon as a sufficient number has been collected in this bag they are transported to the place where they are to be liberated, in large galvanized iron ‘cans with a loose cover over the top. A suitable shore, one composed of rocks, with a growth of short eel-grass or seaweed of some sort, is selected, and the young lobsters poured out just at the water’s edge (Plate XXIV). The morning is the best time for transporting and liberating them. If the time during transportation is long, a tight can with ice may be suspended in the can containing the lobsters; but where there is to be only two or three hours’ confinement in the can, care in keeping it from the sun and frequent aeration of the water by stirring, is all that will be necessary. The above plan is the result of experience. At first the lobsters were liberated at the surface of rather deep water over a rocky ledge. The fry when poured out would sink for some distance and then the greater part would rise and swim about. Just how long this swim- ming was continued is not known, but instances occurred where in- dividual lobsters, which had some distinguishing mark, as the absence of a claw or a peculiar tuft of diatomaceous growth, have been liberated by accident near the houseboat, and have been observed for several days swimming from one beam of the float to another, though the bottom was only from 6 to 10 feet distant. It is hardly needful to comment on this method of liberation. Tautog abounding around such ledges would scarcely allow such an opportunity to go by without taking advantage of it. Perhaps few lobsterlings would ever become established in safe retreats. Profiting by this experience, the idea of liberating on the shore was tried. Here another distinction between favorable and unfavorable places was found. If the lobsterlings were poured out at the edge of the water where the shore was composed of white or light colored rocks, the majority of them would swim out from the shore while still near the surface, and apparently the result would be smiliar to liberating in deep water. If the shore, however, afforded a dark background, especially if this was occasioned by eelgrass, alge, or 150 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. seaweed of some sort, the lobsters would disappear, and close scrutiny would reveal most of them lodging in the branches of the weeds and following the stems down to the bottom. Some fry, of course, would swim out, due mostly to the reaction from being in confinement. Most of them, however, would soon go to the bottom. As has already been shown, the exact time when the lobster fry leave off swimming, except when disturbed, varies somewhat. The majority of lobsters in the fourth stage when confined in cars do build burrows, and perhaps swim about only when in search of food or upon some other stimulus; a minority will, however, either keep swimming about on the sides of the car near the surface; but it is not long before these, too, have taken up the habits of bottom life. From the above considerations it would seem that the lobsters may, if care is taken, be liberated successfully after the first three or four days of the fourth stage are passed. To be sure a later stage is preferred, and as many stages later as may be will further insure the lives of the lobsters liberated; but for practical rearing purposes the fourth stage is probably sufficient. 11. Liberation oj the Egg Lobsters. After the eggs are scraped or hatched from the hen lobster, a copper tag with a serial number and the words “Return to the R. I. Fish Commission” is fastened securely with fine wire to the lobster’s beak. (Plate XXV.) Then, after the length and other data of in- terest have been recorded, they are liberated at various places in the Bay. The tags of those caught are returned by the lobstermen, with a record of the date and place captured. Considerable information is thus collected in regard to the migration of the lobsters, and, since the lobster in molting casts off the tag together with the old shell, some data is obtained in regard to the length of time before molting after the eggs are hatched. 12. Conditions Most Essential for the Location of a Rearing Plant. The experience of the past five seasons in the operation of the plant PLATE XXV.—Adult lobster with copper tag attached to beak. Lobsters thus tagged are liberated at certain stations, and lobstermen are requested to return such tags. if retaken, to the Commission, giving date and place of capture. Valuable information on the move- ments of lobsters has been obtained by this method. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. bi at Wickford has made it evident that, for the proper location of a station for rearing lobsters, two conditions especially must be sought. These conditions are quiet water and warm water. It is not essential in the least to have the station near the place where egg lobsters are obtained most abundantly, for the lobsters may be shipped with little injury. Shelter from storms and ocean swells is obviously a very important factor. The plant described above, though evidently but a skeleton structure, is nevertheless capable of withstanding quite a heavy sea. In the summer of 1903 it was subjected to one of the worst storms for years along the coast, and rode it out uninjured. The break- water then in use was light and was carried away. The rearing apparatus, however, was not damaged. The paddles ran in good order until in the midst of the storm the engine was shut down as a measure of precaution. The seas ran so high that many fry were swept out of the bags. The greater the protection afforded by the location, however, the less danger will there be of accident. The temperature of the water is of paramount importance in order to obtain the best results. Although it is possible to rear lobsters with some success in cold water, the best results will be obtained with water at a temperature of 65° to 75° F. This higher temperature results in a more rapid development of the lobsters. This more rapid development results, first, in a reduction of the expense of operating the plant, because of the less time required; and second, in a greater proportion of fry reared to the fourth stage, because in the shorter time there is less chance for death from cannibalism, parasites, and injury. 13. Cost of a Rearing Plant. The estimated cost of the simplest possible plant, consisting of 20 rearing bags, capable of turning out 500,000 lobsterlings in a season, is aS follows: © 52 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. A SED: WP eneimete, Ween. aie 6. hayes a eee $400 00 Higuselsoateeee see te se 3 Pi ee 325 00 A OG pS. me forehead. 8012: ches ee ee 350 00 Gearincemre Sere. fs 15, 2 AE A 700 00 ant ee eee 80 ey BAe ee ee 500 00 Miscellanecousiixtures (.)222 Gs SRO hOPe 225 00 $2,500 00 In some localities this might vary from the above more or less, according to the advantages for securing the materials. The running expenses of such a plant in a favorable locality would not be far from $3.00 per thousand lobsterlings reared; this includes gasolene, food for the fry, and labor; but does not include the cost of egg lobsters. REGARDING THE RATE OF GROWTH OF THE AMERICAN LOBSTER, (HOMARUS AMERICANUS). PLATES XXVI Tro XXXVII. PHILIP B., HADLEY, BROWN UNIVERSITY, PROVIDENCE, R. I. CONTENTS. Td, Itraducp iar eee ee a2 iid on fark Aaa ol ge ye cme ae ake 154 II. Earlier observations on the rate of growth...................... 156 if) -aiMouminen tneresse ab MOG... 2... cau ee ee ee cele 156 2. Frequency of the molting period..................... 159 III. General observations upon the European lobster (Homarus vulgaris) 160 IV. Observations at Wickford on the first ten stages of Homarus ameri- V. Possible explanation of the variations in the rate of growth of lob- Seer epIMenpioneduiir HE TAVIS. 0h. 1 ij - oe ee os ss tne So's tye'ee 170 VI. Observations on the rate of growth of lobsters beyond the 10th stage 173 VII. Observations on the rate of growth of lobsters over one year old.... 178 VIII. Observations on the rate of growth of lobsters over two years old... 180 1. Gradual diminution in the percentage of increase at molt for lobsters beyond the 18th stage.................. 181 2. Application of these considerations to the rate of growth of lobsters beyond the 19th stage.................. 185 IX. Differences in the rate of growth of male and female lobsters....... 186 1. Inthe case of lobsters under 11 inches in length........ 186 -2. In the case of ‘‘giant’’ lobsters. Chances of life for the adult female. Legislative considerations....... 188 \ 154 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. X. Further observations on the size, age and rate of growth of “‘giant”’ LOD SGeGS Serene fait ee ohne! Sosa. es cues Aha no, cio ecco ee 189 XI. Summary of observations on the rate of growth................. 193 XII. Influences which determine the rate of development. Inherited PhysologienlcOnditionsss 5. -h.cis 4 f/00 adie ORR eee 196 Nee pehesntivence OL pemperapuressh. 22.5. . :/..+ 2.40 one ae eee ee 197 XIV. Regarding the probable difference in the average age of Woods Hole and Waickford\lobsters at maturity... 3i2...:00 500.260 05 201 GV hemi wencerOreehtey. sca. 4 <= + 2's + ls ox0 eee eRe 204 XVI. The influence of body parasites and secondary effects of light... . . 207 CeVAIY, Ehesmilvence onmeod supply.) Ps <%..:.t.5 4 ademon ae sete eee 208 ERO DONT eis Cian er yg eetes Ee lee Aa ls ba: «5 a's von & 4 Ee eR DE ee ree 216 — DROP Xe essa lio etapa bryan. ae ake accic ai bys oe Ss 1g oie Woe eae amen UN Rena ene oe 218 DOCG) UNS gtert Ti 01S Oey Si Nae ee a re ees ols ee mat. ih 222 XXI. Presentation of plates demonstrating some stages in the develop- ment of the lobsters from time of hatching to attainment of UGLY OTTERS EUS ae i i oe i eI Ne eth ote o's 223 I. INTRODUCTION. At a time when artificial propagation is bidding fair to partially check the ever increasing depletion of many forms of marine animals whose economic value has long sustained a many-sided fishing in- dustry, any facts which may bear directly or indirectly upon the life, habits, or development of such forms might seem to be of value. This fact is especially true in respect to the American lobster, a knowledge of whose development must influence not only methods of artificial propagation, but also legislation in determining the season and size at which the taking of lobsters shall be allowable. It may here be noted that the life of the lobster from time of hatching until time of death is but a series of stages or stage periods, so-called, each one of which represents a period of its life between any two successive molts or castings of its shell. Of these stages, the first four are passed through rapidly, the young creature molting usually four times in the first twenty days of his existence. It is these first few stages, so quickly passed, that include the most important changes which the young lobster undergoes, and they are called the larval stages, denoting the successive emergence of one form from another. In each successive stage the lobster is larger than before ; REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 155 thus we can say that he grows by molting, but (except for the gradual inter- articular expansion within the few days immediately following the molting process) never between molts. From the fourth stage on, however, each suc- ceeding stage period is of longer interval and the changes which the adoles- cent lobster undergoes are correspondingly less distinct or significant, being characterized chiefly by those alterations in internal morphology which are concerned with the reproductive organs as the young lobster approximates to the adult structural and adult functional type. The slight changes in body form which the older lobsters experience are evident in the increasing ‘“stockiness”’ of the body, the increasing relative size of the chelipeds, and (in the case of the secondary sexual characteristics) the broadening of the cephalothorax in the male, or the widening of the abdominal segments in the female for the better accommodation and protection of the eggs which are borne attached to the swimmerets on the under side of the “‘tail.”” The first three stages of the lobster are free-swimming stages, but all the activi- ties are without co-ordination or aim. The fourth stage is also free-swimming, but in this case there is co-ordination in movement, and the young lobster swims with directness and purpose, usually at the surface, a phenomenon which is very likely determined by the general positive phototropic reactions evinced in this, but not in later, stages. Sometimes in the late fourth stage, but always in the fifth, the bottom-seeking and ‘‘hiding-habit’’ becomes prominent, and lobsters in all later stages manifest the characteristic habits of the adult species, namely, the tendency to shun the light and to seldom wander far from the rocky crevices which they select for their dwelling place. There appear to be, however, certain migrations of lobsters, some of which, according to Bumpus (99), travel long distances in an incredibly short time. The migration may be general in its nature and characterized by a flux of lobsters into deep or shallow water at certain seasons of the year. These migrations seem to be influenced by water temperatures. There are, on the other hand, certain peculiar individual migrations, as mentioned above, when often a lobster may cover 15 or 16 miles in 3 or 4 days. For such as these there is no explanation available except the general tendency to wander restlessly about (a phenomenon observable in all the early stages) when once they have been removed from their habitual environs or when their habita- tion has been altered, removed, or destroyed. This general absence of a migratory tendency (over great distances) which has also been proved to hold true for most of the tagged lobsters liberated in Narragansett Bay is a significant fact which bears upon the possibility of a depletion of lobsers in certain localities—a subject to be considered on a later page. 156 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. With these facts in mind, the writer has herewith attempted to offer a limited amount of new observations upon the rate of develop- ment of the American lobster and, recalling some observations of other writers, to make an estimate of the age of lobsters in different stages of development. A great number of the facts here reported have fallen under the writer’s own observation while engaged in the work of artificial lobster propagation at the Experiment Station of the Rhode Island Fish Commission, at Wickford, R. I. He has, however, taken the liberty to make free use of data from several other reliable sources, as Herrick, Buckland, Boeck, G. O. Sars, Mead, Williams, Brook, Emmel, Goode, Dalyell, Bumpus, Packard, Gorham, Cobb, and others, each one of whom has presented facts which, when combined with the others, help to construct a somewhat fuller ac- count of the rate of growth of Homarus than has yet been obtained from any single source. Il. Ear.uierR OBSERVATIONS ON THE RATE OF GROWTH. 1. Amount of Increase at Molts. The question was raised by Herrick (’95), “ How-long does it take alobster to attain marketable size?” (104 inches in Massachusetts.) Herrick himself was the first to gather data, make an estimate, and to give a tentative answer. For this reason, before considering our own and other observations, it may be appropriate and of advantage to examine briefly the result of this writer’s numerous and careful observations, made at the Woods Hole Station of the United States Fish Commission, upon the size and molting periods of lobsters in all of the earlier, and many of the later, stages of development. To show the average length of young lobsters in the first ten stages, Herrick presents the following table: REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 157 TaBieE No. 1. (Herrick’s Table No. 25.) Actual length of lobsters during the first 10 stages at Woods Hole, Mass. | | Number of NuMBER oF MOLT or STAGE. | ee aa nean | ee 5 ‘ | | tl ee 7.84 7.5 to 8.03 | 15 Pool ote 9.2 S30 folo.2 || 47 Bice seca ne 11.1 10.0 t0 12.0 | 79 Ae ot igre 12.6 11.0 to 14.0 64 5 14.2 13.4 t015.0 | 15 Gicuniocls dae tts ee eee 16.1 1520) tod 7 0) | 12 Wests dc 5 ee 18.6 18.0 to19.5 | 4 Sits. tol 21.03 19.0 to 22.0 | 5 OA je. are 24.5 24.0 t025.0 | 2 10 28.03 | 26.6 t029.5 | 3 Using as a basis this table, together with one other (Herrick’s Table No. 35), we can formulate the following scheme, which briefly summa- rizes the results of Herrick’s observations on the first ten stages, with reference to (1) average length, (2) increase in length at molts, (3) percentage of increase, and (4) average age of individuals in a single stage. TABLE No. 2. Summary of Herrick’s statistics for first 10 stages of lobsters Raised at Woods Hole, Mass. STAGE. Ibe {| 245 3. | 4. 5. 6. Average length (mm).../7.84 9.2 |11.112.6/14.2 16.1/18.6/21.03 24.5 28.03 Increase in length (mm).|....) 1.36 1.9 1.5] 1.6] 1.9} 2.5 2.43) 3.47| 3.43 | Increase per cent.*...... ....{17.3 (20.6/13.5)12.7 13.415.512.5 16.5 14.00 idee eden a a Average age, (days)..... 4 eee SID) 0) 225 5 IS 0 ee gael ana tee ene * Average per cent. of increase for the 10 stages is about 15.2. 158 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Estimating from this table, the average increase in length for the 10 stages will be found to be 15.2 per cent. In another group of 66 individuals, however, Herrick obtained an average increase of only 13 per cent. It will be observed, however, that, owing to the difficul- ties in maintaining the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th stages, the number of individuals in these stages examined is comparatively small; and since the variation in size in a single stage is great, a larger number of observations might perchance give more certain results. It will be observed from Table No. 2 that the percentage of increase under- goes no great variation between stages 1 and 10. Other observations were made by Herrick upon lobsters of later stages, and the following table gives records of molts of eight lobsters varying in length from 54 to 114 inches. The results demonstrate that, although the percentage of increase for these older lobsters varies between 6.66 and 18.18, the average per cent. of increase is. 12.01 which, as will be noted, is not far from the per cent. of increase in length for the first 10 stages. (See Table No. 2.) TaBLE No. 3. (Herrick’s Table No. 24.) Increase in length of lobsters at time of molting. Length Length | T I No.] Date. sex | “Retire | “attr” | lenati. | percent. —— | | | | Inches. Inches. | Inches. 1 |Oct. 22, 1890 ..|Female.... 5} ene 1 18.18 2 \Oct. 29, 1890 ..|Male...... iil 12 1 9.09 3 |Nov. 6, 1890....|Male...... 1 4 ie 9.68 4 |Nov. 10, 1890... ‘Male A Posteo 9 104 14 | 16.66 balINover DL 890)\ 5s -1cee eer 3 8 | 4 6.66 6 |June 8, 1891.. . |Male Se as 92, 104 | 14 13.13 7 |July 13, 1891 .. Male pein isd 114 124 14 Wik edi Soller eee ns cree *| Sd 4 74 3 11.54 Average...... ete ee 2 sole a sitet esto a 12.01 *Recorded by Dr. A. 8S. Packard, ‘‘The Molting of the Lobster,’’ Am. Nat., 1886, XX. 173. Taking as a basis the observations presented in the foregoing tables, REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 159 Herrick, having determined the average percentage of increase per molt as 15.3, and the average length of the first stage larva as 7.84 mm. constructs the following systematic scheme to show the prob- able lengths of lobsters in all the later stages from 1 to 30, a period of time which would represent the life of the lobster from time of hatch- ing to the attainment of very great size: Taste No. 4. (Herrick’s Table No. 26.) Estimated length of lobsters during the first 30 stages. Stage. Length. Stage. Length. Stage. Length. mm. x mm. mm. A. 7.84 TH eke gem 32.55 Dilla hip cttaes ® 135 a7 Oe 9.04 LOLA re, 37.54 Spe aA 5: 155.86 Bay 10.42 fe oe eee ea 43.28 29) erate 179.70 Ae 12.02 ST ae 49.90 DAS Mes 207 .20 ae 13.86 ey Saar Inia s aie Naa ene eee *238 .90 Gs 15.98 LG 6634), 7) Cos: 4275.45 Fie 18.42 ily. ae OPAOH ADT Wale 317.59 Ce DN! [Sh ee BS 1G |i F28 a alt: | 366.16 See 24.49 TOE a. LOLSOS Br Orn eee: 422.21 LOZ.: 28 .23 PADS | He 2ee A oka se {486.81 *9.5 inches. +11 inches. $19.1 inches. 2. Frequency of the Molting Period. Next arises the question of the time interval between the suc- cessive molts. Herrick considers several cases of young lobsters which have fallen under his observation and concludes that a lobster one year old has molted 14 to 17 times and has attained an average length of from 2 to 3 inches. Regarding the molting period of larger lobsters, Herrick makes reference to Brook (’87). This observer kept a female lobster 648 inches long, for 506 days, during which time it gained 27% inches in 4 molts: 160 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. id Nc ta Cy id Ae a ROS RSI Th 1 612 1, es Silly US ommend. ee 1%5 24, DeceMmbetae pene Ga es. Ae ae 8 Soph ek lays ele eeeemet tee cP. Jee eee ne ea 8té AL LINO Wennbeteg SO 4 a... 5... 2... DES Ee Dee ete 9555 In consequence Herrick assumes that if a lobster 6 or 7 inches long,. kept in the unfavorable conditions of an aquarium, will gain 24 inches in 14 to 17 months, a 6-inch lobster will attain a length of 9 to 10 inches in 2 years. He further believes that 5 molts may elapse between the: 3-inch stage and the 6-inch stage; and that these 5 molts can not take more than 2 years. As to the rate of growth of lobsters just under 3 inches, Herrick mentions a young female lobster which measured 51.8 mm. on the 10th of December. If it had lived, Herrick thought probable that it would have molted 3 times before the following June; and that by this date it would have attained a length of over 3 inches. He considers that the young lobster probably molts 14 to 17 times: during the first year and in this time attains a length of 2 to 3 inches, which length may be greatly exceeded. Putting all these facts together,. Herrick finally concludes that a lobster 104 inches long is between 44 and 5 years old, the higher degree of probability being in favor of the smaller number. . Before considering the data in hand it may be well to examine briefly some facts concerning the development of the European lobster (Homarus vulgaris) which, though usually somewhat smaller, is very similar in other respects to Homarus americanus. III. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE EUROPEAN LOBSTER (Homarus vulgaris). There appears to be a wide variation in the reports concerning the development of the European lobster. As is the case with the American lobster, the early stages may be divided into two groups, REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 161 the zoéa or free-swimming stages, and the megalops, the first stage in which the lobster assumes the form and, to some extent, the habits of the adult. Next, according to Williamson (’04), comes the mega- lops, which seems most comparable to the fourth stage of Homarus americanus, and then the “first-young’”’ stage, so-called, which is represented by the fifth stage of the American lobster. Some writers, as R. Q. Couch (’43). have assumed the existence of a protozoéa stage. Chadwick (’05).also has published, according to Williamson, a de- scription of a protozoéa stage, three zoéa stages, a megalops and a “first-young’’ stage. It would seem probable, however, that there may be reasonable doubt of the existence of this protozoéa stage, and that what the observers have actually seen is but an occasional variation which sometimes presents itself in the first zoéa stage and not a separate stage. We note, on the other hand, that such observers as Appellof (’99— 701) and Ehrenbaum (’03) make mention only of the stages which correspond very nearly with the first stages of Homarus americanus as described by Herrick (’95) and the writer (’05). Likewise in the reports of the duration of the early stage period of Homarus vulgaris there is wide variation. Chadwick (05) states, according to Williamson, that with the exception of the protozoéa stage, each of the first five stages of the European lobster lasts about a week. It seems hardly credible, however, that the length of the stage periods should be so nearly the same; and especially that the fifth should be no longer than the first. Appellof (99-01) and Ehrenbaum (’03), as we shall see, give quite different reports regarding the stage periods of the European lobster. The hatching period for the European lobster extends from the middle of July to the middle of September. The first stage lobster, according to most observers, is about 8 mm. in length. We have examined the drawings made (to scale) by Williamson (’04), and con- clude that the lobsters examined by him on the west coast of Scotland were, in length, as follows: 21 162 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Pret, 20a Shaver een ees nee se. fe 8.0 mm. Second! 7oca srateurremee ne 10.7 mm. hind *70ca statements sks ek SE 12.2 mm: Pourtht vdcareamemaerr es 6.0. 0.2 2a 14.8 mm. Merslopststneemse nae 2.) 2 2 15.0 mm. Dirst-yOunersraseceremae ss... Le 17.4 mm. pecond-youlesnipesss 4... ee ae 17.0 mm. ‘Einirdayeumegsuamenises.).. 2...) ORR «20 70 sm: The value of this estimate must, however, be lessened because of the manner in which it was deduced by the present writer. Accurate measurements of the lobsters themselves would, no doubt, have given somewhat different results. Concerning the exact length of some of these early stages, we can obtain more satisfactory data from Ehren- baum (’03) and Appelléf (99-01). The latter observed that the first stage-period might be as short as five days, but averages six or seven days. The results of certain observations made by Appellof and Ehrenbaum on the length and stage periods of Homarus vulgaris may be tabulated as follows: TaBiE No. 11. Showing the rate of development of European lobsters in the early stages. APPELLOF. EXHRENBAUM. Ep 5 Stage period. Length. Stage period. Length. Ul Gere days. nah waeecues ot Simm... ||4—5\ days-6. 2. #24 8 mm. 2 (9 —hON Gays) Sen aera rare ae 3 3=5 Gays) teee coe er lokes oa a cick 3) LO=12 days<(P)e eee rac... 10 daysse pea 12-14 mm. A 123-28 (days. eee 22 17 days-=—22-= :. 16 mm. By \ac and 62 Caves eae eerraeriels i). 24 daysipesee ace 17 mm. Gh ee ne eee oe Sols O.|lo aol 20% Gay Seer 18-20 mm. 7 hae ee OMB de aR a 8 ld oe ee 30 days! ae eee see 21-22 mm. Brie Pie eo Pe ee Se 3imon@)imeeeeeee 24 mm. *No accurate data on the length of Appelléf’s lobsters are available at time of writing. +These lobsters, four in number, mentioned by Ehrenbaum (’03) were kept in Aquaria in water whose temperature was relatively high. This probably accounts for the molting of these lobsters (one in February and three in March) during the winter months. As will be shown later, this is not usually the case. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 163 It is here observed that not only are the stage periods of the Euro- pean lobster very long, but the amount of increase in length at each molt is relatively small.* The periods are so long, in fact, that Appellof observed that the average number of his lobsters had passed through but five stages (and were in the sixth) when the on-coming cold weather and the consequent lowering of the prevailing temperature of the water put an end to their apparent growth. In December, however, Ehren- baum’s lobsters, raised in the warmer waters of Helgoland, were in the seventh stage, and Ehrenbaum concludes that if the young lobsters had been hatched earlie, in the summer, they would have passed into the eighth stage before the cold winter months had come, and put an end to the period of growth (Wachsthumsperiode) . Thus Ehrenbaum finally concludes that the European lobster molts 7 or 8 times the first summer and autumn of its existence, and attains in this time an average length of 22 to 25 mm. Regarding the rate of growth of young lobsters over 8 months old, Appelléf observed a few individuals which molted 4 or 5 times during their second year of life. Making use of this, and other data, Ehren- baum estimates in consequence that a young lobster 116 mm.(43 inches) in length, is three years old. He formulates the following scheme to ) demonstrate the rate of development. The “periods” refer to the periods of growth (Wachsthumsperiode) 7. e., in this case, years: First period 8 to 25 mm.......Amount of increase, 17 mm. Second ‘ S0-tGmarar mm: ): >. =f i‘ 40 mm. Third a 7O*tor ZO" mm... /! ns “ 50 mm. Fourth’ ~“* L207tomr Oe mam... 2. as i 50 mm. Fifth es 170 te; 220mm. ..’.. .\. ou e 40 mm. Sixth we ZO eee SOM. ...85. oe i 40 mm. From the summation of these facts, we can (having already ob- served the data presented by Herrick, page 159 draw the conclusion. that the rate of growth of phe average Huropean lobster may r be less *These facts will be more evident when:a comparison is made with the tables which appear on subsequent pages. 164 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. rapid than that of Homarus americanus. This hypothesis will per- mit of demonstration in the course of the succeeding pages. IV. OBSERVATIONS AT WICKFORD ON THE First TEN STAGES OF THE LOBSTER. The observations made at the Wickford Station of the Rhode Island Fish Commission by the writer and others, though differing to some extent from the results obtained by Herrick at Woods Hole, and from those of other investigators working with Homarus vulgaris, may serve to throw further light upon the rate of growth of lobsters under natural conditions of environment, and perhaps give some hint as to the value of a few of the conditions which appear to modify it. Attention may be first directed to Tables Nos. 25 and 26. The ob- servations here recorded were made upon young lobsters in stages 1 to 12, whose approximate age and definite stage were known. In- dividual records were started immediately after the molt from the third to the fourth stage and carried through the following stages until the last of November. The records include observations upon individuals many of which did not live through the later stages be- cause of inadequate methods of preservation during the winter months. A sufficient number, however, were brought to the twelfth stage to give some value to the data on the average size and usual duration of the stage periods at this time of life. To determine precisely the rate of growth of lobsters in the first three stages, few special observations have been made. This is because of the fact that when these young lobsters are isolated in glass dishes or other receptacles, for particular observation, the rate of growth does not appear to be the same as under natural con- ditions, but somewhat decreased. For this reason the most valuable data on the rate of growth of lobsters in the first three stages are gained from observations upon large numbers of lobsters in these stages, which have been hatched at approximately the same time and develop under more natural conditions in the large hatching bags. In order, then, to represent the average rate of development REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 165 in the first three stages at the Wickford hatchery, the following (Table No. 11a), compiled by Mr. E. W. Barnes, Assistant Superin- tendent of the Wickford Hatchery of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries, is presented. \ TaBLE No. lla. Length of Larval Stages in 1905.* | Numser or Daysin Dir- | as z TEMPERATURE. FERENT STAGES. 5 % ; Qa so) Og | Begun. Ended. | | l ae ae © | First | Second | Third | "53% = g Extremes. | Average. Stare: Biage! Stage. oe se mz, | | < | i |May 212... June sae 53-56 57.4 12 6 3 21 2 |May 24..... June 13..... 54-56 57.6 9 6 3 19 3 |May 24..... June 19..... 52-70 60. Ds |) ke 4 19 5 [May 26..... June 23..... 52-70.5 | 61.3 7 7 4 18 Sioune w5). .. 1. June One 54-77 63.3 7 4 4 15 9 |June 5..... June 27..-.. 54-77 64.8 7 5 5 17 10 |June 7..... June 26..... Begg) || 65. | z 5 4 16 | 11 |\June 9..... June 26..... 54-77 65.9 | 6 4 4 14 12 June Os Vili Ae oe 60-77 66.8 | 6 4 4 14 13 June 2. ee June 29/52 ea 60-77 67. 5 4 4 13 14 |June 16..... July: Saeeee eeee—za: 68. | Be) as 5 13 15 ‘June ROsee July eee 61-77 68. | 4 3 5 12 16 |June 21..... AM) Fennca|) (=e 69. | 5 3 5 13 17 |June 21:.... July: thee 61-79 70. 4 4 6 14 1g) |June 25... ,. |Julyoueeee 61-77 69. Sy 2 4 11 19 |June 28.....|July 10..... 61-79 Oa | 5 eS 4 11 20 |June 29..... Duly, sl eee 64-79 Tale, 5 3 5 13 2a Sune (29... Julyaseee 64-79 71.2 | 5 2 4 1 22 |June 29.....|July 13..... 64-79 71.4 | 5 2 4 11 25 \Suly Sioa. July 19..... 66-82 74.4 5 2 5 12 | 26) Waly 7.22. « July VO2ne 69-82 75. 4 i eer 10 27 auly cone July 24..... 69-82 74.4 4 Sal vid 11 28 |July 11..... July; 24. 69-82 75.1 | 4 2 4 10 | The average number of days in the first stage was 5 and ranged from 4 to 12. The average number of days in the second stage was 3 and ranged from 2 to 6. The average number of days in the third stage was 4 and ranged from 4 to 6. The average number of days to reach fourth stage was 13.8 and ranged from 10 to 21. *It must be borne in mind that the different lots were subjected to different conditions which may have had an equal or greater influence than the temperature in regulating the number of days in the various stages. a 166 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Table No. 25 represents the result of a series of observations upon the early stages, conducted during the early summer of 1904 by Dr. A. D. Mead, and continued upon the later stages, during the latter part of the same summer, by the present writer. In this case the lobsters used for the experiment were taken at random from the large hatching bags or special cars in which they were confined, and repre- sent the normal average size for the summer of 1904. Table No. 26 records observations made by the writer during the summer of 1905 at the Wickford Station. In this case, instead of taking the fourth stage lobsters at random, a selection was made of those lobsters upon which records were to be started; that is, the small and weak fourth stage lobsters were thrown out, while an attempt was made to secure those individuals which gave appearance of being larger and stronger. A comparison of these two tables reveals some differences which may be better brought out by the following tabulations: 167 OF INLAND FISHERIES. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS *(¢0,) PUM wos BYBE} PO9ATISGO S19}SQO] 94} FBY} JOBJ OY} OF enp Alqeqoid ST SIU, “PS 0} TT Apne ‘o1nges9dui9} 1038M UINUITXeUr jo potied oy} Sutinp e3e4s YY 94} YSno1y} Sutssed 9q 0} pousddey “YQANO}J OY} UBY} 19}10Ys St poliod-9se4s YFG OY} ‘a[N4 B SB ‘yBY} VdI}OU Jo AYAIOM YUIOU B ST 4T$ *(¢Q,) [OULU WOIy IV “UONeISUETaI UO SUOTYRAIESGO Supyeur Jo esodind oy} 10F poye[yNnur useq pey Yor s[enNplArput yueseidos esoy Tx .0 88/2 FS 6 GP ‘Dp | “UU a) w p N 8 9 io} i) Le} Z ee ‘LI GOVLG +++ leg -g¢ IT Sd} O'S 6 LE ‘Dp | "mu a a g/ 5 cs) 3 ee ee ‘OT apvag {aseioay CO6T [BULIO N "S[BULIO NY 8 OMAP] 4 OSBIOAY GOGI powpynyy ‘payoojeg SO6I [BULION ‘ISBIOAY FO6T [BULION geziig ATi’ 2e\|4°STIP ST4e F1/S'ST|| SPT ETI || | | | | | NG Pal = 180 Teliess JO. Shi) PUL SUSI The PL) i6l-OL|9) co (8% jt JEU! GEG 6 C-liPs 2 ; 6°66) GST Fb 6L O'8T POT) 0° 9T/9 FI}| 6 8T|° 0 12\0 ZE\|- ST) € TEE E1\9 FZ ZGLS 0G SZ 11 0 JANG 72, V2 a7! T'Ze||0'9T| SOE FIIE ZZ ST/9 STI$S'6 |¢°ST|| O'SLIS ETO SIF ITO’ F/9 6/0 Z| 28 ‘pp |\*mu |) “Dp | “wu | ‘pp | "mw || “Dp | “wu ‘pp |\wmum)) “pp | wu || “Dp | uw | “pp wu) “pp | “wu a2lalel|el|elelelele lel e lelezleleleie|e 3 3 & 8 iia: a 3 3 3 ee a ie = ie i | (> pu . | | 6 ADVLG *8 GDVLG *) AOVLG ‘9 MOVE ‘Gg MDVLG ‘papvaig || ‘¢ avag ||'g aovag)| “Taovag ‘sabojs TT Ws.uf ay} fo yynosb fo ayou ayy Uo suoyna.sasgo fo hunmung ‘G ‘ON WIV, REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 168 6 81 “ST OF TT 98819 F 06 0 FI “TT 91 OT 98819 0 FI 0 LI “OT 0} 6 88819 ¢ 91 0&1 oh eles -e-6] 9) 18,56 §$G’°0Z ¢'8I G LG 9° 0G Gest §2°ST 0 16 6 0} § 95819 "8 03 2 aBRIS "201 9 aBvig € &1 0°06 “9 0} G 83819 “(G0,) Jew WoIy spoB y+ *potied-a8ejs ay} UI 9}¥] GoR[d Yoo) suoMEN§ ‘ayeutxoiddy ‘potied-a3e4s oy} Ul A[Ive voRTd Yoo} suONB[YNI “joStieay Lp . GT Ded Ot 6 Sct Osc oO Oeitn itm 6) oe crim CO6I [BULION 6 IL ¢ él 9° 0G go OL eS SUETOIN Spe Beat) of ( [osvi0ay Bir com yt Pocleschcare esa EO0 cae aia a 4 COBI | peyenyy [ “peqospeg yee) mel uci RS rc | [esd 77. 4 CO6I | [wuLtoN ‘OSBIOAV Oncik 9°81 G 61 O21 FO6T [BULION eS Zu || one e i i i i @ ) oO o ns vs) to = 3 3 3 3 cA ie ca ‘sabojs [1 yuu sof ‘abojs sad ‘yjbuay wa asvasour fo sabojuaosad fo uostundwog) ‘9 ‘ON WAV]; REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 169 Reference to the foregoing tables demonstrates several important facts. First it will be observed that, though the stage periods of the lobsters observed in 1904 are for the most part longer than the stage periods of the selected lobsters (1905), the average size for the 1905 group is much greater. Furthermore it is observed that, while the total average increase for stages 4 to 12 in the 1904 group is 18.4 per cent., the average increase for these stages in the 1905 group is 20.9 per cent.; and that the increase in the case of Herrick’s lobsters for the same stages is only about 14 per cent. In consequence it is evi- dent that there may be great variation in the rate of development in different localities and under different conditions. Further, that there is a tendency manifested in those individuals which are slightly above the normal in size and strength to increase the advantage which they have already gained. This advantage in size of the fourth stage lobsters may be no more than a millimeter, but this slight gain, compounded through numerous successive stages, gives, even in the tenth and eleventh stages, a decided lead which may be observed in individuals recorded in Table No. 5 (1905 group). Through the courtesy of Mr. V. E. Emmel, the writer is able to append a table showing the result of observations upon a few stages of normal average lobsters in his keeping for the summer of 1905. TABLE No. 7. Showing the size of some normal average lobsters in the summer of 1905.* | | | Stage 4. Stage 5. | Stage 6. | Stage 7. | Stage 8. | Stage 9. | Stage 10. Average Size./13.7 mm./|15.8 mm. 18.4 mm. 22.2 mm. 22.5mm.|........ Average ) | Stage- > |14.8 da. /14.3 da. /15.7 da. |17.5 da. 175 da period. | Per cent. | of Increase. |........ 154% |16.3% |206% |15.7% |........ eaten *Data from Mr. V. E. Emmel. 22 170 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. If this be compared with the relative stages given in Table No. 5 (1904 group) it will be observed that the average length per stage for the normal average of 1905 corresponds very closely with the normal average of 1904, although it is less than the average size of the selected normals for 1905. It is further evident, however, that the stage periods of the 1905 group are, in general, greater. It is difficult to assign a reason for this fact other than chance fluctuations in water temperatures or the possible effects of light. It has always been ob- served that the first four metamorphic changes in the young lobsters follow each other in more rapid succession and that in consequence, the individuals are larger and more healthy, when the temperature of the water is near its maximum. It is during a few weeks in the middle of the summer that all lobsters of whatever size experience their most rapid growth.* On the other hand, as will be shown later, the effect of a strong light may exert a harmful influence on the development of the young lobsters. In the case of the group last mentioned (see Table No. 5, also Nos. 23 and 24) lobsters were kept in open wire cages and not protected from the sun’s rays nearly as well as the lobsters which were confined in the covered wooden cars, and whose records are presented in brief in Tables Nos. 5 and 6 (1904 and 1905 groups). The difference in the lengths of the stage periods will be readily observed. A more detailed treatment of the influence of light upon rate of development is undertaken on a later page. V. PossiBLE EXPLANATIONS OF THE VARIATIONS IN THE RATE OF GrRowTH OF LOBSTERS MENTIONED IN THE FOREGOING TABLES. It is undoubtedly to such differences in the temperature of the water that such a variation as is noticeable in the rate of growth of the lobsters observed by Herrick at Woods Hole, and those of other groups considered in Tables Nos. 5 and 6 is partly due. It is readily noted that not only are the average first stage lobsters at Wickford *See Tables Nos. 18, 19, 20, and 21. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. Vet larger than those recorded by Herrick, but that the percentage of increase for nearly all the early stages is greater in the case of the Wickford group. In experiments carried on at Orr’s Island, Maine, where the prevailing summer temperature of the water was only 60°, the fourth stage was not attained short of 25 or 26 days (03). This is over twice as long as the average time required at Wickford to reach the same stage when the prevailing water temperature has beén 72°. These facts demonstrate how dependent the rate of growth of the lobster, at different points of the Atlantic coast, may be (at least during the early stages) upon the temperature of the water; hence the difficulty of drawing up any strict account of the rate of growth applicable to all regions. This subject will be considered again on a later page. (See p. 197.) A second consideration appears from a glance at Tables Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8. Through the investigations of Emmel (’05) on Homarus it is evident that mutilations of one or more appendages, contrary to the view of Zeleny (’05), exert great influence, not only in delaying the molting periods, but also in diminishing the normal percentage of increase in length in each successive molt. This is shown in the two following tables :* *Whether or not the condition of mutilation and regeneration will decrease the percentage of gain in size at the coming molt seems to be more or less dependent upon the time in the stage period, at which the mutilation takes place. The experiments of Emmel (’05) would appear to indicate the fact that the condition of regeneration has less influence upon the rate of increase when the mutilation is performed in the early part of the stage period; and vice versa; that a mutilation performed in the middle of the stage period has a greater influence in diminishing the amount of increase in size at the following molt. 172 Data on the molting period of lobsters having one or Tasie No. 8. appendages. § REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. more regenerating 47TH STAGE. 5TH STAGE. 6TH STAGE. 7TH STAGE. | 3 3 3 3 : ® o o a 8 Date. = f Date. 5: Date. a Date. és gf g\3 g 3 S| 3 8/3 Z M| M | WM n| M | M “El. Tce oo a ee ae es Ee | ae ahaa: 7 eee He irigeeeeie..2| 13 ||Aug: Goce eeeeleee leew a abe | Sas coe ARE oe | EVR eer N'.-« ies]: LO! || Adige Ge ceeeco| pepenel let eel |e smerenewe aa Weekes 7 a At 8 We enpazee es. | 12 | Ang Siete = (ieee eee 1 he a co OS Hl chen ae Ae ie LAC edt acres: «'|' Le. || Anuipe iG seve | ets Pat eel ene ec ee | eee Giie tke |e Malye |S .2-| Lo, || Aug) Sea. Pee (Sey eee erro |S tes. 2 Tees sa ee ieee Volys2ieeve|--.-| 13. |/Auesoue 12 |/Aug. 21°. Bite cera ties Se ilyvever |: .:..) Lo | Anpaoeae 14 ||Aug. 23... Gee sere ete Meee aes! a! Lo | Augeotae 14 ||Aug. 23.. NOWercra nee Aliulyee4..\....| 16 ||\Augaoee 18 ||Aug. 27. 1 Yi Wl Aen ee MOlVe eae. ||...) Loe || Aue nee 15 ||Aug. 24. D2 Se eeter ae ayes| oe MiUVeAO sae |. 2 |) LAA Aeon 281i Sept, (Gs.cus|knevs alleen IS}. dulye262-¥%, «|; .-| LS. | Auge sore 28) Sept eGesccillysite heres 14]. live ||: .. =|) Lor | Aue Oeee US) | Aig 2 7ee 21 | eleven i) a ral ether ies. |...) Lo || Aug. Ox 29 iSepbe Pes alioae alee AG eee een ene || ees NN erga. ce love <0) LS: || Ani ier DS ia | Anties 20 arabes eds eeatewe ee 4 da. da. Fev) ied sb eal ae *Average..|....| 12 ||*Average Oi | taveie enc a tcl beer levees 17|July 12 TIS. itn ike PASS os | ree men AS tor ieee eae oo 18\July 12 NG vee oeeee sc PhD |! Avie: SON ome Bee Si ee eee 19\July 12 BA) || AMee2s «1h tore vane ene | PRA irs ICs eral harris ||lfras aa ec cin p DP hia liyen lira cere eee Melo aa REL Reeders colli secc ei Te || ANE. Bays rasta toe ys) || cuousteal ll epeenere eel ne Oily Ose | eete Oyler a. ..-| TO |;Aug: LO Sh er rae cesta eveyreyenas 22 Titlyelee |e cl el thyme ere es. FLO! | Awe: Gets aie are cdliee aes isis aeeetar reer Pal URL Gl ce ey | eer IN WAM CLS leet PSEA oc 5'1l| o.oo 0.2. ore oye Cee enevel Il Peat er ae BAAN Kathie ede elt oll MG fod kee SAS; | A ee | ee ete Zu oll Ps oe eo 20s Dock da. da. IAVEr aces \\| Meee lida pace eS Omid) ee ell Dae llc. aces = sie. h a ean eens elites eiesenenre renee nearly normal condition during the 5th stage. §Data from Emmel, *In these sixteen lobsters it will be noticed that the molting period of the 5th and 6th stages was much longer than the normal period. See previous table. The average duration of the normal 5th stage was 93 days, and for the 6th stage 12.7 days, but in these regenerating lobsters the average period for the 5th stage was 12 days, and for the 6th stage 19 days. ; tLobsters 18, 20, 21, and 22 had regenerating appendages in the 4th stage, but had attained (04). ing period had dropped back to the normal length of 9} days. In this latter stage it will be seen that the molt- REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 173 VI. OBSERVATIONS ON THE RATE OF GROWTH OF LOBSTERS Past THE TENTH STAGE. Before we turn to consider how these foregoing observations bear upon the probable normal rate of growth of the lobster, it may be well to examine data (Tables Nos. 9 and 10) compiled by Dr. A. D. Mead and Dr. L. W. Williams on the rate of growth of certain groups of lobsters in captivity at the Wickford Station of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries.* From these observations we can gather many valuable points which serve to guide us in the estimation of the rate of growth of adolescent lobsters. We find that, of 149 young lobsters hatched between June 1 and June 26, the average length on September 15 was 31.8 mm., the ex- tremes being 44 mm. (hatched June 1) and 20 mm. (hatched June 26). Of these 149, about 10 months after hatching, 23 individuals gave an average length of 50 mm. while June 12, approximately one year after hatching, 79 gave an average length of 53.56 mm. A full list of the one-year-old lobsters examined stands as follows: Group. Number of individuals. Average length. 1 4 43.0 mm. a ap 48.2 mm. 3 28 52.. 7 1mm. 4 19 56.0 mm. 5 6 67.0 mm. Total Average, 79 boeo) Mim. *From time to time there have been attempts made at the Wickford Hatchery to raise lobsters to sexual maturity. These attempts have not been successful owing to the hard win- ters, the ice-packed harbor, and some insufficiencies in the construction or placing of the lob~ ster cars for winter months. The attempt made by the writer during the winter of 1905-6 to *keep lobsters in earthenware jars filled with salt water was a failure, owing either to poison- ing from the jars or to unevenness in water temperature. The water may be cooled to such an extent that it freezes at the surface and no harm is done, but rapid changes appear to cause disastrous results. That lobsters kept in a cold and constant temperature require but a small amount of water, with infrequent changes, is shown by the fact that a few young lob- sters which the writer entrusted for the winter to Mr. E. W. Barnes, and which he kept in a cold room in bottles, (whose width was scarcely greater than the length of the lobsters), passed the winter in safety. Of over fifty kept in this way but two died. The others were in good ondition when again placed in their compartment cars in Wickford Cove about April 1, 1906. 174 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS TABLE No. 9.* OF INLAND FISHERIES. Measurements of lobsters hatched in 1900, showing growth during first summer. (Each column represents a separate car). Hatched between Hatched between Hatched May 31. ‘Hatched June 10. | Hatched June 26. ‘May 31 & June 26.) May 31 & June 26. Measured Sept. 15., Measured Sept. 15. Measured Sept. 15. Measured Sept. 15.|Measured Sept. 15. Age 34 months. | Age 3 months. | Age 2} months. |Age ab’t3 months.| Age ab’t 3 months. | | mm. | Inches. mm. |Inches.| mm. Inches.| mm. Inches. mm. Inches. 26 155 21 13 20 43 7 19 3 20 113 30) 1,5 PY z 21| 7 20 13 Pao < 30. 1,3; 22)" $ 23] 18 21 43 23 43 30 1); Zo 1 24| aa 22 a 23 15 31| 14 27 1; ae) 1 22 < 23 a 33, 1;5 Po 15 25) 1 22 a 24 a 33} 1 pr 30 15%, 26) 1; 24 ae 24 any 33] 1 i 30 15 26 15, 24 18 Parl 1 35 13 30 1; 27 14; 24 i2 25 1 36) 12 30 155 27, 1 25 1 26 1 ox) 1,5 32| 1} 27 145 25 1 26 ists 38) 14 32) 1} 29} 14 25 1 27 L4 38) 14 32| 1} 30 1 25 1 28 14 39) 1 32 1 i 30 154; 25 esl 28 14 ea) Stl tele mel aeneell iy eal were 16 8 4 “ 16 2 8 ' ae s 35| 13 3i| > ia 26] Its 29/14 v. 34.7| 15 37 154 32 14 26 ists 30 i SS eid 38; 14 ap) ie 96| ta 30| 1445 Total No. 16. 38 14 33) 1, 26 1S 31 14 40 13 34) 15551 Pat 1 32 14 40 13 34) 15; Pap lis 34 15; 40 13 35) 12 27 1,4 34 1? 42 12 315, 12 27 14; 34 1; 45 13 | 36, 12 29 14 35 12 37| 155 30 153; 35 13 \Av.32.6 14 | oh 1551 30 1% 36 1k | ae 40 13 32 14 37 1% \Total No. 25. 41 13 | 32 14 37 ee 42 12 | 33 135 its 15 46, 118 Se es Siw kee | ——— = 34 15 37 i ts |Av. 29.9 1+, 35 13 37 ists ——= 3g it saiaty ‘Total No. 31. 40 13 . 38 14 % 40 13 39 175 40; 18 a 40| 18 | Av.31.8] 14 43 144; 44| 148 /Total No. 38. Av. 30.1 ts Total No. 39. *Mead and Williams (’03). OF INLAND FISHERIES. 175 IONERS » Ss rs REPORT OF COMMI “(e0, ys suey] TEM. PUB pues x | ‘ON [B10], | tc, lyicG ay | #% (89 | ‘PS ON [BIO] Z — |99 *(1eo 9) e1edes B sjusseided UUIN[OO Youn) | RIG I9‘'SL AV &e tay) £3 “ON [810] *yueo Jed j ‘OF ‘F 19G0190D 0F LZ Youn | | £2, rexe) OZ G° 0G “AY "jua0 Jad Q ‘fF 1840990 09 OT Jaqureyday | 8 Sa lec ‘jue 10d OFT ‘OT sequiezdeg 07 TE Avy eV OIL £6 6% = ‘gueo sad 6'ZS ‘TE ABI OF LZ Yous | & : C6 1G 8g 1G 8G *yuao ted Z) ‘2 1aquIaAON 0} OT ABI | Bs ee urs Lg ue 89 ‘juao sad 90g ‘LZ 1aquIeAON 0} ZZ ySsNsNy Be GS me Lg 1G 9S sine ted Pane oo et ye | i YA oo OL ae ee 1G ve ae ee PONE Te Or eS OOM OF Ole IN. 1S ee lite IGS 1G SG G Sj :qyueo Jed UL aZIS BSBIOAG UL asvo10U,— pea ae ve Ig 8c GG 8z eG ——_—_—_—_— — + - ep — |O61 ¥g 08 16 «|S TG, [69 PT ON [F104 “FE “ON TOL) fp [TIT fe 08 Cece iz |e¢ 7 |40T Av) #8 [28 4V | Bp TIT € GL nS Cee AicG pCO Ne cok ON TOL = tp 201 to 02 &@ |a¢ Ze N09 ty cal 4¥| I Jet “AV| #¢ logt.e | 8 |LIT® || F {TOT Ie lo2 gre Z og | fo |08,4 | t ~ 12004 =|) 26-86 $0 & |0¢ it |8P 19 6ST 19 6ST Go ETO Ste 186 te |S6 #6 OL Z |0¢ it (8h io = \601 #¢ |6PT A ¢ |2eT tS |S6 te (96 $6 «169 ZS «I6P Pee ak ¢ (831 foe Sel Piety |PIbP | 78 88 fe (88 $Z «(89 & «6P TL. lr iv i861 fy lect |Sy 9019 | #8 ([g8 #6 = |S8 #Z = «|S9 G \6Pr tI |SP fy (er iy |S. ig (86 Te LIGS fe gs #Z = ¢9 7 eee tL «|S tp ATT tp |Z 3G 186 i€ (28 rs — ice 4% (129 ale PA $l | PP ty 801 ty 801 iE G6 fe 162 t§ (28 #2 (09 iL -\2p Hie 6p ty |801 ty (801 tS = |S6 #6) 162 He 162 TG. 29 tL «| hY #1 |GP i |801 Ww (801 i 88 ey e102 foe = 102, te |Z s1 |6P fie i0P fey = 000 lee 901 i 88 iG (82 16 (|€Z #Z |G fl |6P ay LP vy |90T |e 901 te is x «(69 i 69 2 67 ra = NN {1 (0% ‘soyouy| ‘uur |‘sayouy| ‘uw j|-soyouy| ‘wur |*seyouy | ‘wut ‘soyouy | “ulUE =| *sayouy wut |‘seyouy | ‘urur | *seyouy UU *syjuoul F savad Z “SYJUOUT g SIBAA Z| *suvad & | “syjyuoUL 6 wor T *sy}UOUL JT ‘syjuow FT “aIBak T *syjuoUr ()T ane oyeuxoiddy | env eyeuitxoiddy | ose ayeurxoiddy | os¥ oyeutxo1ddy || ose ojeurxoiddy | ose ayeurxo1ddy | ase eyeurxoiddy | ost oyeurrxoiddy FO “OL 3dag “tts oe | LG Bee \| *L AON ‘GS ONY ‘GT oun ‘OT Av ‘OBL ‘F 109019) 07 yYynouB Burmoys § 9Z aun r pun ‘Tg fivpy uaemjaq ‘OO6T U2 paynqDYy 8.19}8qQO) {9 PuaUasnsDa Py a ¥ OT ‘ON Gav, “LOBL ‘2 aquiano NC 0} “yjmoub Buamoys § 9% une pup ‘Te hop waanjaq ‘O06L V2 payaiwy suajsqo) fo yuawainsna fy Vv 176 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. By examining Tables Nos. 25 and 26 it will be observed that the greater number of lobsters which were hatched between June 1 and June 26 (entering the fourth stage June 13 to August 9) were, by the first or middle of September, in the ninth stage, and that the average length jor the normal ninth stage lobster according to Table No. 21 ts 32.1 mm. If the average length of 79 individuals one year from hatching is 53.5 mm., it would seem (according to the normal average percentage of increase for all the earlier stages, 18 per cent.) that the yearling lobsters must be in the neighborhood of the twelfth stage. It is probable that the growth under these more natural con- ditions may be somewhat slower than when the individuals are care- fully fed and kept in their own compartments (to be described later) , Under the latter conditions we occasionally meet with lobsters which pass through the first twelve stages before December of the same year in which they are hatched. (See Table No. 26, Lobster No. 30.) Herrick believed that the normal rate of growth in natural environ- ments was more rapid than that obtained in the case of his captive lobsters, which were kept in jars having water circulation. It is most probable that this is true. The difference is, however, prob- ably less than one might expect, since the freedom from injury in aquaria must be of decided advantage. We know that the rate of growth of lobsters kept in their individual compartments is somewhat more rapid than the growth in the large storage cars. The reason for this may be the greater liability to injury when many lobsters are confined together, and the consequent retardation of the rate of growth—a state of affairs which would be in strict accordance with natural conditions where the probability of injury is at least equally as great. The cars (Plate X X XV) in which the young lobsters were placed at entrance to the fourth stage, and in which all later observations on individual lobsters were carried on, were constructed as follows: Long troughs were built, about 10 feet long, 10 inches wide, and 10 inches deep, having sides of No. 12 mesh galvanized iron wire screening. By means of board partitions the inner space was divided into 10 separate compartments in which the young lob- REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. ee sters were placed and through which (when sunk two-thirds their depth) the water made easy circulation by means of the screened sides. The cars were provided with hinged covers which served to protect the young lobsters from both the sun’s rays and waves in periods of rough weather. These storage cars, as described by Dr. Mead, were merely ‘‘large wooden boxes provided with sand; gravel, seaweed, etc., to simulate as closely as possible the natural environment. The sides were made of galvanized iron screening, which allowed free circulation of the water. During the summer the cars were suspended from the houseboat or from floats so that the water in them was about 18 inches deep. In the autumn they were provided with tight fitting covers and were sunk in the channel, in from 8 to 10 feet of water, and left undisturbed until spring. The lobsters were frequently fed during the summer, but in the winter no food was given them, although they may have obtained some from the water or from the animals which grew in the car. * * * The question at once arises, does the rate of growth of those lobsters kept in confinement fairly represent the rate of growth in their natural environment? It is impossible to answer this question definitely at the present time, but the following facts have a bearing upon it: The cars seemed to furnish a natural environment, for not only were the lobsters in a healthy condition, but seaweed, oysters, clams, shrimps, mussels, tunicates, barnacles, various specimens of marine worms and other animals, grew inside the cars as rapidly and as normally as in other places.”” Mead (’03). Thus to summarize:. September finds the average lobster hatched the previous summer im the ninth stage of his existence, his length at this tume being 32 mm. From observations on large numbers of adolescent lobsters we have deduced the probable average increase for stages 4 to 12 as 18.4 per cent. We know that the average size for 79 lobsters, aged approximately one year, is 53.5 mm. Applying our estimated per cent. of increase we deduce that a lobster one year old is generally in the tweljth stage. ‘The three molts between the ninth and the twelfth stage take place between the middle of September and the middle of the following May, for records of 23 lobsters show that they had attained at the latter date (when approximately 11 months old), 5063 of the year’s growth. From these considerations it becomes evident that the average lobster passes into the tenth stage in the latter part of September, and into the eleventh stage during the latter part of 23 178 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. October or the first of November; furthermore, that it lies dormant through the months of December, January, February, and March, molt- ing into the tweljth stage sometime in April or in the first part of May. It is entirely possible, however, that under certain conditions the young lobsters may enter the tenth stage in October or November and undergo two molts in the following spring; but this must be the exception rather than the rule. There are some instances (see Tables Nos. 25, 26) which have fallen under the writer’s observation wherein certain individually cared for lobsters passed into even the twelfth stage before winter; but as has been said, these cases are excep- tional. In any case, this view is rather in contradiction to Herrick’s: that a lobster under one year old may molt three times between December and the following June, and that a lobster one year old has molted jrom 14 to 17 times. VII. OBSERVATIONS ON THE RATE OF GROWTH OF LOBSTERS OVER OnE YEAR OLD. We will now turn our attention to the rate of growth of lobsters over one year old. Herrick mentions the case of 16 young lobsters which were driven ashore at Woods Hole after a storm on January 16, and whose measurements were from 39 to 83.7 mm. Herrick thinks it possible that all may have been hatched during the previous summer, in which case none of them could have been over 8 months old. We know, however, that the young lobsters, at least in the earlier stages, grow more rapidly in Narragansett Bay than in the region of Woods Hole. Hence, since the largest of 79 lobsters one year old reared at Wickford was only 79 mm. in length, it is exceedingly doubtful that any of the shore-washed lobsters, recorded by Herrick as 83 mm. in length, could have been less than one year six months old. In this regard the writer would direct attention to records of two yearling lobsters raised from the egg, whose approximate age and stage were known. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 179 TasBLeE No. 12. Record of the rate of growth of two yearling lobsters* raised at Wickjord, R. I. STAGE 12. | SraceE 13. | SraceE 14. Stace 15. % < } oo | | | Se 3 || od || oO | s aah Sill al 42 |.2 || Seo a Date of & || Date of | 5 || Date of S| S10 Date of =| molting a | molting || molting | = Es molting to | 2 1I to = to seals to = I Oh S| 3 =| = || S || a |S) o= | || | cw || aD |n| MD |n || May ()seoee ..|..|| July 20. .|53]/33)| Aug. 23..165 |57||Oct. 19.177 |..|| 19.9 May (?).......|48]..|| July 20. .|61 30) Aug. 20..|70 |65)|Oct. 27. 84 |..|| 21.9 — — — | | | | Average...... 5 S12 | Pe al) ira ay | eee 80.5 20.9 1| | *Had not molted again November 28. +Rather smaller than the average size. We observe from a study of Table No. 10A, that of 28 yearling lobsters (which as we have attempted to show were in the twelfth stage and which in this case had an average length of 52.7 mm. on June 12) 24 individuals, measured the last of August, had an average length of 72.6 mm. This would represent an average gain of 37 per cent., and we may infer that approximately 2 molts, each representing an increase of about 18 per cent., have taken place. It will be noted that the per cent. of gain corresponds very nearly with our average computed per cent. of increase, 7. e., 18.4 per cent., for the lower stages. Thus we assume that the young lobster enters the thirteenth stage some- time in July, and the fourteenth stage perhaps in August. Considering for amoment Table No. 12, we note that these deductions coincide very closely with the facts recorded regarding the rate of growth of the two yearling lobsters. From Table No. 10A, we obtain the further data that of 24 lobsters averaging 73 mm. (and in all probability in the fourteenth stage the last of August) 17 individuals, when measured on November 7, had an average length of 87 mm. From this fact we conclude that the passage into the fijteenth stage takes place sometime in October, and note that the actual average increase in length over the fourteenth 180 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. stage is in this case 21 per cent. By a consideration of Table No. 10A, however, it becomes apparent that several of the lobsters must have molted twice within the times of measurement. If we make allowance for this fact, the estimated average increase for this stage drops to 18 or 19 per cent. This deduction corresponds rather closely with the observations recorded in Table No. 12. Now it is, that, when we consider the rate of growth during the winter months, an interesting fact is observed. In Table No. 10 it is shown that in the group of 17 lobsters (probably in the fifteenth stage and averaging 87 mm. November 7) 14 individuals which were measured the last of the following March had not increased a milli- meter in length since the November measurement. This considera- tion must have great weight in emphasizing the fact that young lobsters, at least those over one year old, do not, under natural conditions, molt during the last of November, December, January, February, or March; that is to say, the average lobster passes its second winter in its fifteenth stage, length 86 mm. (32 inches). During the months of April and May, however, it appears that the length of the 14 individuals iast mentioned increased 18.3 per cent. This fact would signify that one molt has occurred and that a young lobster two years old is in its sixteenth stage, having an average length of 102 mm. (4¢sinches). VIII. OBSERVATIONS ON THE RATE OF GROWTH OF LOBSTERS OVER Two YEARS OLD. We come now to consider the rate of growth of lobsters over two years old. (Stage 16, length 102 mm.) We ascertain from Table No. 10B, that by September 10, after the third summer, the average length is 122 mm. (4% inches), showing an increase of about 16 per cent. in the 12 individuals examined. Observations made October 4 reveal no further change in size. From this fact it seems safe to believe that the average lobster, two years old, enters the seventeenth stage sometime in the late summer of its third year and probably molts again. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 181 before the winter months of the same year, into the eighteenth stage, experiencing no jurther change until the following April. 1. Gradual Diminution in the Percentage of Increase at Molts. It is indeed possible, and perhaps probable, that, after the seven- teenth or eighteenth stage, the percentage of increase in length for each successive stage undergoes a gradual, though slight, diminution. If we draw conclusions from observations on the rate of development of most of the marine invertebrates, we must believe that in all cases, as the size of the individual slowly approximates to the average growth limit of the species, the rapidity of development becomes grad- ually less. While among those forms which do not grow by means of an ecdysis, this fact is evinced by a gradual retardation of the growth process, among those animals which do grow by molting, the change manijests itself as a gradually increasing period oj time between successive molts and by a decreasing percentage oj gain ajter each suc- cessive molt. And without doubt this natural retardation in the rate of growth is somewhat accentuated by the average number of injuries to which animals with dispositions so pugnacious are always liable. On the subject of the rate of growth of lobsters between 5 and 7 inches in length we are able to obtain valuable data from Table No. 10 B, and from other cases which have fallen under the writer’s obser- vation. In many instances it is to be regretted that the unfortunate and premature death of many very valuable individuals has placed some difficulties in the path of observation of certain molts, so that in several cases the deductions must appear to a degree speculative. It is most probable, however, that the majority of estimates, even in the instance of the very large lobsters, do not come far distant from the actual facts of the case. If attention be directed to Table No. 10 B, column 1, it appears that the individual lobsters under consideration did not molt more than once before May 31. Considering that lobsters designated a, b, c,d, e, and a’, b’, ce’, d’, e’ are identical, we can construct the following table, which should give us some idea of 182 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. the average per cent. of gain per stage for lobsters about 6 inches in length. TApin No. 13: Data on rate of growth of lobsters between 5 and 6 inches raised at Wickford. Increase Specimen. Before Molting. After Molting. Increase. per cent. Sele aia es aah 107 mm. 130 mm. 23 mm. Pols) Dabaes ee eee | 111 130 | 19 170 5 ORAS Ie eee 127 149 22 US 76 eG ge AE ee 114 | 128 | 14 UP CE Se tt ne A 106 123 | ive 0 g* Er cee 132 144 14 9.0 Average 15.4 *A lobster which had been measured for other purposes. These observations would indicate that the average per cent. of in- crease in length for 5 to 6 inch lobsters may be somewhat less than for lobsters in earlier stages (1 to 17). In all probability the lobsters which gave an average of 122 mm. (Table No. 10 B, column No. 4) October 4,molted once more before the last of November. Unfortunately no further records of these lobsters were kept. We know, however, that normally they will not molt again until the following April. From these considerations it appears reasonable to conclude that a young lobster passes its third winter in the eighteenth stage, length 141 mm. (5% inches), molts again in the spring, probably in April, and by June 1 (when approximately three years old) is in its nineteenth stage and has an average length of 162 mm. (64 inches). In the rate of growth of lobsters over 6 inches in length we may ex- pect to find a still smaller percentage of increase at each molt. Our data in this case, however, is somewhat limited. Observations upon 15 young lobsters, whose length varied between 5%46 and 71%6 inches, gave results which are embodied in the following table: REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 183 TABLE No. 14. Data on the rate of growth of mutilated “chicken” lobsters.+ Before Molting. After Molting. Average Increase. Dze e t a 2 Ot 4 63 Vis 15 7 1316 815 9 61% (bus 6 1 815 16 2 7 8 6 (36 4 10 ao) 16) 2 Oe V5 ae! is tt 9 835 9345 14 4 6+¢ V5 10 61e* ha 14 q Ls (is 10 : 3 16 16 8.5 Per cent. tMost of the individuals in this group of lobsters were intentionally or unintentionally in- jured, and were being made use of in the study of regeneration. * Represent specimens which were the least injured. The foregoing table demonstrates that in this group of lobsters the increase in length is only 8.3 per cent. This unexpectedly small percentage is no doubt partly due to the fact that the lobsters be- longed to a set which was used in experiments in regeneration, and nearly every individual possessed two or more regenerating ap- pendages; and this fact, as we have already noted in previous cases (Table No. 6), may reduce the normal percentage of increase, as was the case in the fifth stage,even to 5.3 per cent. We may, perhaps with fairness, estimate 10 to 12 per cent. as the actual rate of increase for normal lobsters of the size under consideration. It may, however, be of advantage to consider the cases of molting lobsters mentioned by Brook (’87). The facts in one instance may be tabulated as follows: 184 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. TABLE No. 15. Showing rate of growth of Brook’s lobster, No. 1. No. of Molt. Date of Molt. Size after Molt. Per cent. of Increase. ee Greer I ROL ck (Qe ha 67 inches: 3's Vel 4a eae tors serene SED elena te caigieeee.......| pe inchesoae. re 8.0 of ES Tie Med Wecember25.....| “8 anchesy25.-= ities pi AN cree Be esa Nes ilvg@2 oreo... .| O24 INCHES ree 10.9 a ee Srey a dN Nowember 19*..... |) 9-8. INCHES eee aA IASI ARE oa cleat bee See |... cara tstsi Raat eae 9.0 *Period, 506 days. The observations of Brooks, on another and larger lobster, were as follows: TasBLE No. 16. Showing rate of growth of Brook’s lobster, No. 2. No. of Molt. Date of Molt. Size after Molt. Per cent. of Increase. iL Set, SORT Re ener cee (2) dee 7 Pe mcbes, Week Arcee See eae ia Peo ptintne ty Wit Vi Reebok. sdcce 74+@ inches... -/.2- 10.4 Steere es september 20......-|8¢8 aches: .)2 >.) - 12.6 ANY DEES yd Beil 33:20. 5.) . . 20's | SUS MNCs oltre tye 4.8 Te Ree ES @ctober 137... .... O22 Since B see year: 4.3 VASURETEE Do) 08 ea ee a ec i es 8.01 *Period, 414 days. It would appear from the facts above outlined that the average percentage of increase in the length of these lobsters is very slightly greater than those already mentioned in Table No. 14. It must be stated, however, that the two lobsters above mentioned belonged to the European species (Homarus vulgaris), and since we know that this species is naturally smaller than the American species, we might reasonably expect a less rapid rate of growth; moreover the lobsters in question were kept in aquaria, where, as we have noted, the rate of growth would probably be a little slower than under natural con- REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 185 ditions. Thus we must conclude that the percentage of increase in the case of Brook’s lobsters is slightly less than the normal amount of increase for lobsters of the American species of the same size. Herrick probably approximates more closely to the actual conditions in the table here presented as Table No. 3, wherein he determines 12 per cent. as the average increase for lobsters between 54 and 114 inches in length. If we omit, however, the first, second, and seventh speci- mens, an average percentage for the remaining individuals (which. represent more closely the size under consideration) drops to 11.4. This, without doubt, represents, with fair accuracy, the average percentage of increase in size for lobsters between 6 and 10 inches in length. For lobsters over this size the percentage of increase appears to be further diminished. Two lobsters of the group mentioned in Table No. 3, which were over 11 inches in length, showed an average gain of 10.1 per cent. In three European lobsters mentioned by Williamson (’04), the amounts of increase were as follows: 12% inches to 13 inches. 124 inches to 12¢ inches. 4 inches to 104 inches. In all other cases of lobsters between 94 and 124 inches the amount of increase apparent directly after molting* varied between } and 3 inches, showing that even the ultimate amount of gain must have been very slight, in all cases under 8 or 9 per cent. We know that the size of the European species is less than that of the American, and ap- parently the average percentage of gain in all stages is consequently diminished. 2. Application of these Considerations to the Rate oj Growth of Lobsters Beyond the Nineteenth Stage. Let us return now to the consideration of the average lobster which *It usually happens that, if the lobster be measured directly after molting, there is found but a slight difference in length. It requires some little time, usually a week or more, before the lobster attains his full length. 24 186 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. we left with a length of 162 mm. (64 inches) in June, at the begin- ning of his fourth year of life, and in the nineteenth stage. From our observations and those of Herrick and Brook it would appear that a lobster over 6 inches in length does not molt ojtener than twice a year; once in late spring or early summer and again in the autumn. On this point the data of the following observation would seem to present some surprisingly clear evidence. Out of 48 “chicken ’’ lobsters (6-8 inches) which were confined in cars during the summer months of 1904 at Wickford, it was a noteworthy fact that eleven lobsters from 6 to 7 inches in length molted between September 2 and October 4; that only one 6-inch lobster molted later in October, and not one in July or August. The lobsters were received early in July, and unfortunately it is not known exactly when the previous molt of the 6-inch lobsters took place, but it must have been in the early summer. The greater number of these lobsters were later more or less mutilated for experiments in regeneration, and the record of only 15 has been presented in Table No. 14. The molting period, however, was undoubtedly about normal, although, as already stated, the percentage of increase in size at each molt was somewhat less than what we must assume for normal. According to the above inferences, then, the average lobster will enter the twentieth stage sometime in the autumn of his fourth year and at this molt will increase from 162 mm. (64 inches) to 180 mm. (74 inches). In the late spring or early sum- mer the young lobster, now approximately four years old, molts jor the twentieth time and enters the twenty-first stage with a length of 200 mm. (8 inches). IX. DIFFERENCES IN THE RATE OF GROWTH OF THE MALE AND FEMALE LOBSTER. 1. Lobsters under Eleven Inches in Length. Except in the case of young female lobsters bearing eggs—and such are very seldom found in the 8-inch length—we may expect another REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 187 molt the following autumn and will find the lobster in the twenty-second stage with a length of 222 mm. (8% inches). From Mr. E. W. Barnes, the Superintendent of the Wickford Station of the Rhode Island Commission of Inland Fisheries, the writer has learned that out of many hundred female lobsters which he examined in the years 1902 to 1905, the smallest lobster which bore eggs was 8{ inches long. There were very few lobsters under 9 inches long which were “in berry.”’ Thus we may conclude that the molting periods for males and females remain about the same until they are past the 9-inch length. Therefore we may believe that the entrance to the twenty-third stage, with the corresponding length of 247 mm. (9% inches), takes place just before (or at any rate very soon ajter) the lobster becomes five years old. According to statistics furnished by Mr. Barnes, there are few female lobsters which attain the 10-inch length that do not bear eggs; and thus in the case of the females the rate of growth from this time on must be much diminished. It is a well-known fact that the female lobsters extrude their eggs but once in two years, and that the green or unripe eggs are carried about for a period of 11 or 12 months before hatching. Although there are a few cases in which the female lobster is said to have molted just before spawning, the greater number of observations point to the fact that, in general, the molting period of the mature female lobster is limited to a longer or shorter period of time directly follow- ing the hatching of the eggs. Consequently, since spawning occurs but once in two years, the molting process can not occur oftener than this; and the rate of growth is correspondingly diminished. This fact is quite in accord with what we know of the cessation of growth that is observable in many marine forms just previous to the spawning period. After the extrusion of the eggs growth again commences and continues until the approach of the next spawning period. The male lobster, on the other hand, maintains the former rate of development ; so that, by the twenty-fourth stage, the average male has attained the length of 275 mm. (11 inches) and must be at least 6 years oj age; in the case of the jemale lobster which has borne eggs jrom the ninth 188 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. stage, the 11-inch limit can not be reached before 8 years or more, the higher degree of probability being in favor of the larger estimate.* 2. Lobsters over Eleven Inches in Length. This discrepancy in the relative rate of development of male and female lobsters makes itself more evident as a possible explanation of a phenomenon observable in the case of very large lobsters which have been caught from time to time in both European and American waters. In nearly all instances in which the sex has been observed, these “giant” lobsters have been males. Herrick makes note of this fact. Observations made by G. Browne Goode (’84), in 1880 on the length of lobsters in the region of Provincetown, Mass., revealed the fact that, while the largest male lobsters gave an average length of 18 to 22 inches, the females measured only from 15 to 16 inches. All the “giant”’ lobsters from Rhode Island waters which have come within the writer’s observation have been of the male sex. From other localities also there are available numerous statistics to show that the largest lobsters caught have, with hardly an exception, been males. A list of these is presented on a later page. (Table No. 17.) It is indeed probable that, in these days when the lobster fisheries are being driven to the uttermost, there are few female lobsters which are able to escape the pots during the course of the many years that are necessary for the growth of the female lobster even to a length of 16 inches. As Bumpus (’99) has observed, there are few chances for the continuance of the life of any lobsters over marketable size. This condition of affairs is doubly apparent when we note that of 479 tagged lobsters liberated in the neighborhood of Woods Hole during the summer of 1898, 76 individuals, and probably more,t were recaptured within a period of 4 months, and that in single instances *We observe that Appell6f (’99) concludes that it requires 6 or 7 years for a lobster to reach sexual maturity (8+ inches) on the west coast of Norway, and that the number of molts which have been experienced to that time is 17 to19. Meek (’04), on the other hand, concludes that a lobster 9 to 10 inches long is 4 or 5 years old. +The facts that many tags were undoubtedly lost, either through accident or by the molting of the lobster, and that several fisherman failed to make any report of tagged lobsters which they had captured, make it extremely probable that more than the 76 lobsters bearing the tags fell into the hands of the lobster fisherman within the time scheduled. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 189 even 20 to 30 per cent. of the liberated lobsters were recaught in less than 3 months.* When we seriously consider such facts as these, and realize that a female lobster which has had the rare good fortune to live to attain a length of 15 inches will produce on an average 7 times the number of eggs laid by a 9-inch lobster, it is a question whether State legislation should protect only the young and often sexually immature lobsters whose productivity is so much less than that of the older and larger individuals—individuals in whom life is cut short long before the period of maximum generative ability has been reached. It is not at all probable that the lobster problem will ever be solved by protecting the lobster in its earlier years alone; nor yet by protecting it only in its old age. Perhaps the time has come when there should be both a maximum and a minimum size limit between which lobsters may be taken. There seems to be no other method of legislation whereby it is possible to effectually combine the highest value of the lobster fisheries to man with the maximum advantage to the lobster itself. X. OBSERVATIONS ON “GriaAnt”’ LOBSTERS. Except the facts presented in the last section, concerning the very “oiant’”’ lobsters no accurate data regarding the rate of large or growth is at hand. We are at liberty to believe, however, that by the time a male lobster has attained a length of 10 inches, and per- chance earlier, it does not molt oftener than once in a year; and after the 15-inch limit not oftener than once in two years. This estimate of the frequency of molting is less than that accepted by most observers. Sars (’77) wrote concerning the European lobster, ‘‘The lobster changes its skin once a year as long as it grows; when it has ceased growing the changing does not occur so often.’’ It is reasonable to believe, however, that the frequency of the molting period for all lobsters does not differ greatly from the frequency of molting in the case of other aged macru- *In European waters it has been estimated, according to Ehrenbaum (’03), that of large number of lobsters liberated 40 per cent. were recaught within a period of 9 months; and that in 22 years 65 per cent. of them had again come into the pots of the lobster fishermen. 190 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. rans, such as many of the larger species of Palinurus. Among the latter we: find such instances as that of Palinurus Lalandit in whose deeply corrugated shell we observe the calcerous tubes of generations of tube dwelling worms. This is indicative of the fact that even in the more aged of these smaller macrurans the interval between the molting periods must be extremely long. Similar evidences are to be found in the examination of such forms as Locor- rhynchus crispatus of the Pacific coast, whose shell forms the dwelling place of a host of marine animals. It is needless to say that among the lobster fishermen themselves there are widely varying views on the subject of the age of lobsters. While some will maintain that a lobster attains a marketable size in two years, as many others will affirm, with equal sincerity, that at least a dozen years are necessary. The old records of the size of large lobsters are also exceedingly unreliable. As is the case with many marine forms, the few correct reports have become so modified by hearsay and generous repetition, and the few reliable observations have become so interwoven with early and uncertain tradition of monster lobsters, that our exact knowledge of “giant” lobsters is necessarily limited. We know that the European species is smaller than the American; yet according to Boeck (’69), Pontoppidans, the old Norwegian naturalist, records* a huge specimen from the Bay of Evien which was so large and fierce that nobody dared to attack it; and that betwéen the claws it measured at least afathom. Herrick repeats the tale of Olaus Magnus} regarding the lobsters that lived between the Orkneys and the Hebrides, so large that they could easily catch and squeeze in their claws strong swimmers. Such re- ports as these can be attributed only to superstitious belief which at all times has played havoc with reliable reports regarding the size and habits of many marine animals. A lobster as large as the individual represented in Plate XXXIV can not be less than 14 years old and is, in all probability, more. The profusion of marine fauna and flora always found attached to the shells of aged lobsters bears testimony to a life of inactivity and is ? *'* Norges Naturlige Historie,’ Kopenhagen, 1753. j+Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus, Rome, 1555. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 191 indicative of the fact that a great time must elapse between succes- sive molts. It is true that vast colonies of barnacles and hydroids and algze and tube-dwelling worms may be developed in a single sea- son, but it is not probable that the excessive growth of these forms, found on the shells of huge lobsters and other aged macrurans, can be interpreted as the result of a single season’s setting. One of the largest lobsters of which accurate data is available is spoken of by Herrick. Its length was somewhat over 20 inches and its weight 23 pounds. In December, 1905, a huge specimen was captured in a fishing trawl outside of the mussel ridges of Rockland, Maine. This lobster is said to have measured 224 inches and to have weighed 194 pounds. The fishermen who saw this lobster believed that it was at least 50 yearsold. This is, with little doubt, an over- estimate, though it is entirely probable that its age was in the neigh- borhood of 30 years. The largest lobsters from Rhode Island waters which have come within the writer’s personal observation were 184 and 194 inches long and weighed 11? and 19 pounds, respectively. ‘This would seem to indicate that a very slight difference in the length of these large lobsters may be accompanied by a great difference in the weight, although the greater number of recorded lobsters over 20 inches long remain very close to a certain average weight. This fact is readily observed from most of the records which have been made of “giant”’ lobsters, as will be noted in Table No. 17. It is also ap- parent that, as Herrick has already suggested, the increase in the weight of the lobster is chiefly the result of gain in the size of the claws, while the body itself may experience but slight change in length. Ehrenbaum (’94) mentions the case of a lobster 42.2 em. (163 inches) long, which gained scarcely a millimeter in length at a molt. Other cases of a similar nature are reported. Though our data on this point are too meagre to warrant far-reaching conclusions. it is fair to Judge that the amount of increase for “giant ’’ lobsters is not over 4 per cent. at the most, and that the molting process does not occur oftener than once in several years. According to this estimate, 192 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. few of the lobsters mentioned in Table No. 17 can be less than 20 years. old, and the majority must be much older. Taste No. 17. Giving statistics concerning some oj the ‘“‘giant’’ lobsters of both European and American species. 8 o Length of | Length of g Place Captured. Date. Length. Weight. (‘‘Crushing” | ‘‘ Nipping’”’ | Sex. 3 | Claw. Claw. | | | 1 |Salem, Mass.?...|1850 | 212 in. |20-22]bs |124 in. [123 in. | Male. 2 [Europel. ....... res. | 19.4 in. |20-23 Ibs.13.1in. /12.4in. | Male. 3 Coast of Norway”}1850-56, 18.73 in.|10 Ibs. 10.23 in. |10.03in. | Male. 4 \Boothbay, Me.*../1856 | 20} in. |20-22 Ibs.124in. /13} in.* | Male. 5 |Belfast, Me.*..../1891 | 20in. (23lbs. |13fin. |14im* | Male 6 |Lubec, Me......./1892 | 20Zin. (20-22 Ibs.132in. (114in.* | Male. 7 Provincetown, | | } Migeeeee (S94. | 20.21 ime eee ete el aes Male. 8 i@riehaven, Me®,./1898 |25in. W25Ibs “je... 2... Neda ate Male. 9 |Newport, R.1.*..|1898 | 19}in. 19]bs. /113in. 11} in Male. 10 |Mohegan Island, | 1 CSS ere a 1899 4A in. f°? bese feats caste cetlces sae eel eee . 11 |Narragansett | Bayotote:. 2). 1903 | 184 in. 112 lbs. |93 in Bien) See Male. 12 |Rockland, Me... .|1905 224 in. TOFD evel eens lea ee Male. * Measurement from tip of spine near proximal end. + Total length including claws. The body length must have been about 24 inches. 1This specimen is mentioned by Herrick, who also made an estimate of the weight. It is believed to be of the European species, and is now preserved in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 2 Mentioned by Herrick, on the authority of Dr. Sounberg, of the University of Upsala. This specimen is now in the Bergen Museum. 3 All mentioned by Herrick, in whose work on the American Lobster more detailed data in measurements may be secured. The Belfast lobster is now preserved in the Museum of Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio. The Provincetown lobster is now at the St. Nicholas Hotel, Boston, Mass. 4This specimen was caught entangled in a fish trap near Newport, and is now in the pos- session of the R. I. Commission of Inland Fisheries. 5'This is a case mentioned by Cobb (’99) on the authority of R. F. Crie & Sons, of Crie- haven, Maine. The specimen was caught in a hake trawl off Manticus Rock Light, Maine, in 60 fathoms of water. 6 This lobster was seen by Cobb, at Peak Island, Maine, in 1899. It was caught off Mohe- gan Island, and the fisherman was drawing it about the country in a car, and charging a small fee for inspection. REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 193 XI. Summary or Facts Tous Far CONSIDERED. In order to present in a clearer and more tangible form a summarized statement of the facts contained in the foregoing pages, the writer has made out the following table, which is based upon the observations already considered and, when they have been wanting, upon pure deduction. The very great variation in the size of lobsters, even of the same age and stage, renders it well-nigh impossible to tell off-hand, by any known means, the exact age of any adult lobster. On the other hand, the size of large numbers of individuals of a certain age must form a general average, on a basis of which, the age of a group of lobsters can be determined with a very fair degree of certainty. It is this average, together with the correlated age, which the writer attempts to formulate in the following table: 25 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 194 *xag “sep O° 1S * Shep 0° €8 m= (0) 00 a | Bie ori “sep 0° S36 ““s&ep 0°12 ““shep ¢°ST “skBp 0' FT “sep CCT *{s&ep 0° TT “sKep 0 ZT ‘polled 35819 “UUIMYNY 10 IaWIUING 94e'T , Bie Srektsc Athos rota eaeyene uumyny bao Gio oe 5 -ofo"h86 0 suradg o4e'T “HOW FO sul], e}euITxo1ddy IL =) siksyre) ae iie 0'2c 88 0° 26S “sour g ‘sik F Il Aue Releeners 0°22 8g 0° SSS “sour g ‘sik F DOr “ON Il Or Pit OF 0°02 g 0° 00Z Doe ch chy 0 sik F NOTE ‘ON 1G OF lips 0ST t2 O'O8T |'sourg‘si€g |**"* "0% ‘ON it Dan (Once 02% 89 0° Z9L apehiileG o sik ¢ eee 61 ‘ON OI Sad ect eee 0° 0z 8c 0 IFT “SOUL 9 ‘gk Z eeeee SI “ON ie ee eat 0 61 tb OST jsomg sk g | LT ON co¥ [es pipn ae 0°91 ihe OnZOle ake sik % SiC) OL ‘ON SI Cer Oconee ay eit ge 0°98 “soul g ‘IA T Dodoo GL ‘ON ST Oo mo ooo ee 8¢ 0&2 “sour @ “IA | a | ‘ON SI Ob OM oo 0'6 Sg 0°29 SOOO, |p WAN TL ote iene el ‘ON SI Geaegecy tacts 0's 87 0° eg saa TG OAS VT cad oo Fall ‘ON pps pcan “ap EH oop |e syjuomrg |+- °°: iT “ON org |e a's 41 Re guauoue = (2-2: 01 ON {81 OG Fatt c'¢ tT Onze 5 Ot “syquoul e seokevinkis 6 “ON Sa eae OF at] Gog |rses-syaom @. meee @ ‘ON ap |frooae re 5 Gce. —. | 3--e3jcanal aaa 1 ‘ON oT hes 8°% is 2° ST paiioss sage oS) ‘ON of alle og : OO shep pe |) °-°S “ON a celeron Smee ton Grey reste step gq |°7*” 7 ‘ON Se eas g: 7 lta ee Sea [ees step, |v t* @ “ON SI moto oO OO FT Peo oon0 4 0 9°6 nivel elie) sixalie shep ¢ Boe ‘ON i er Oe CPE RRM MA Sevier os eG 7 ON “gu990 I9q “ul “Uru ‘Uy moose I ‘O3V -aseig “ASVANONT ‘HIONGT ea ea ‘azis umouy ysaqvaib fo yuamuroyn 07 Buryoyoy fo awy wo. sajsqo] Unoruamy ay} fo yymoub fo ‘ST (ON @Iavy ayn ay} {0 anulysa UP ‘oyeulrxoiddy , “1B0h GB UL BDIM} UBY} 19U9ZJO S}[OUL 19}SQO] OY} JI [NJZQnop AIA ST 41 9He4S YIST OY} 107} Vz ‘9584S SIU} IB9U Ajqeqoad st 41 ynq ‘payjztu1o ysay St SHH9 [BUI}X9 SUL JOU S19}SqOT s[BUTE} JOF FOUL iewuuns Ajiee Jo Surids ay} out} YY ysnf 4B ureyTe0UN st FT| *‘SUOT}IPUOD [BN}OV WOLF IVF [[BF ‘I9AQMOY ‘YoU UO 195 wf 4] ‘aAQBINOdS ‘veISep YSTY B OF ‘oq YSNUI a}VUIIySA SUTMOTLOF 94} CE 0} 9% SesByS JO Spolsed Suryjjour vy} uo vyep Jo Yovy ywoais oy} Jo asneoeg § 4 *‘SYJUOUL J] IO [][ 1OJ JSVO] 7B SISIY ‘poled 918 SHS9 [BUII}X9 OY} FBU4 potied ay} Sup 7[OUL OU oq AT[BIN}BU UBD 210} ‘S859 SULIBO S19}SqO| o[BUTOJ Ioqt a ‘00g d ‘yx0} vas UOTZBUB[dxe JOF -YJINOJ VY} UBY} I9}10Ys A]jea9ues St posed aseys YY 9G Lt a *qsoq,10Ys oy} AT[VNsnN st potsied osv4s JOWUINSPIUL OY Lx fe TS Se a emi ee ee nae nae ec ae Tie a B ‘W aiksnte) mom) 7