The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-01-17
Society of Natural History.

Prof L. A. Lee, of Bowdoin College, deliy-
cred an exceedingly interesting lecture last
evening to we'll filed house on the work OF
the Fish Commission during the past summer.
In 1871 Congress directed an investigation into
the alleged decrease in the number of food
fishes swimming in our waters. Afterward the
subjects of the artificial propagation of fish
and the introduction of new forms were added
Prof. Spencer F. Baird was appointed COM
missioner, and he concluded to investigate the
whole subject of life in our water since the
food of the fish, of which but little was known,
needed careful study The fishes of New Eng
land being of the first importance, were the
first studied, and up to the present time nearly
all the work done by the commission has been
done off our coast. A different station has
been taken each season and the life in the vi
cinity thoroughly investigated.
In 1880 the headquarters were at Newport,
R. l., with the idea of completing the labor in
New England, but in September of that year
it was decided to make a trip to the Gulf
stream distant 100 miles The result was very
surprising to the scientific corps. The dredge
brought up wonderful assemblage of forms of
life, many of which were new to science.
Prof. Baird determined to give another years
study to this ground. Nine trips were made
during the past summer, Prof Lee himself be-
ing connected with the work. For ninety
miles out from the Station at Woods Hole the
water is not over fifty fathoms deep. In the
next ten or fifteen miles it suddenly deepens
to 800 to 1000 fathoms All the work of the
past year has been along this slope in water of
80 to ITO fathoms and extending along but al
ways inside the Gulf stream about 100 miles.
Here was found a wonderful profusion of life
in species and individuals Nowhere else in
all the ten years labor had such results been
obtained. The bottom was usually sand mixed
with mud and countless millions of foramini-
fer microscopic shells) Here also were caught
In great abundance our common fshes-the
cod, paddock, whiting and several species of
hake,-but conspicuous among all was
called the tile fish. 1t was first dis
covered in 1870 by a fisherman who
happened out there 1t Is a large fish averag-
ing IL to 20 pounds; shaped something like
cob but with larger head; purplish back and
covered with bright yellow spots the size of
quarter of dollar. Behind the head is
feshly lobe like that near the tail of salmon
The meat is thick, firm, white and of fine
quality. 1t is beautiful fish to the eye and
tooth They were caught by the commission
ing taken at one haul on a single-line trawl
They were found generally at 100 fathoms
depth. No reason occurs to Prof. Lee why
they should not be fshed for especially in the
winter in place of the Banks fishing
AS is well known the fishes off our coast feed
largely on shrinps, crabs, shells, ETC., which
abound in our waters at all depths. The crus-
taceans are more nearly allied to the forms
found on the Norway coast and in the Arctic
regions. Cape Cod is a barrier to the shore
and shoal water species and the Northern and
southern fauna is well marked by this natural
boundary. But the deep sea fauna has no such
feature. Cephalopods, or squids, which we gen.
orally consider southern type, were found in
great abundance and ID or 20 new species were
discovered. All appear to be food for fishes.
The largest of this class was Octopus-like but
all the arms were united by a thick web 1t
was three feet long and weighed % to 90
pounds. Numerous fragments of the paper
nautilus were found but no living specimens.
Twenty kinds of star fishes were brought up
at one haul: all are eaten by fishes. Many in
teresting worms were found some of which al
so live in shallOwer water. One of these worms
secretes horn-like tube ten inches long. The
dredge brought up bushels of them.
On the whole the shrimps, anemone and star
fishes may be said to be Northern. But the
shells have many forms allied to West Indian
species indicating that they have come up in
the Gulf stream. The colors of the crustaceans
were vermillion, scarlet and orange, the star
fishes were orange, red and purple and the
sea anemone were pinkishA and orange. All
were most gorgeously colored. Blue and
green colors do not occur. Prof. Verrill tells
us that the red rays of the sun are absorbed
ana Iall 10 reach tH6 lOWor uoptus VI tlio sod.
Consequently these animals are really pro-
tected instead of exposed by their hashy
colors. 1t is noteworthy however that those
animals which are phosphorescent, and most of
the soft animals are SO, omit blush light.
The scientific corps during the past year has
consisted of about ten persons. The steamer
Fish Hawk was admirably ADAPTED for her
work and was equipped with every new or
useful apparatus. Among others was new
form of rake-dredge which brought up shells.
ETC., that burrow just under the surface.
The Professor paid glowing tribute to the
broad plan of Prof. Baird, and to the results
| obtained by the commission.
Prot. Henry Carmichael was elected cor.
| resnnndino memher of the society.