The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-16
TILE FISH RETURNS.
Thought to Have Become Extinct
Some Years Ago.
Fish Commissions Boat Grampus Has
LOcat a a School.

The title fish" has returned, or, at
least, the United States fish commits
sion thinks SO, and the fact is welcomed
as adding a valuable food fish 10 the
national menu. They speak OF the re-
turn of the fish. for the finny vagrant
has an interesting history. IL was hrst
discovered in 1879. and the fish people
thought a mine of wealth and food was
at our doors, or. to speak. nautically.
Just off shore. Then. in 1882. they died
Oft. TO all appearances. and II was
thought became extinct. They have
been found again.
The first heard of the tile fish was In
1879 from a Capt. Kirby, who caught
some and brought them to the atten-
ton of the United States fish commits
sion at Woods Hole. Commissioner
Baird chartered special boat for the
exploration OF the supposed home OF the
fish, and during 1880 and 1881. on this
boat and on the Fish Hawk. the hab-
itat and habits of the animal were care
fully studied. IL was found 10 be new
species, and ii abounded In certain To-
calities, principally In the gulf stream,
along it's western edge.
The fish tasted like cusk and was very
edible. They ranged from TO 90 POUNDS
in weight, and could be roughly classed
between channel bass and the goldfish.
They existed In millions, and IL seemed
as II an extremely valuable fish was TO
be added to our markets, particularly
as IL was found to have excellent stay
ing qualities, and would endure ship
ment as well as any of the well known
sorts. The naturalists called IL the
lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps, but the
fishermen refused to wrestle with such
a name and shortened the generic por-
ton OF the title into tile hence the
name title fish"
In the spring of 1882 several vessels
inward bound reported sailing through
miles and miles OF dead fish OFT Sandy
Hook and south of Vineyard sound.
They were all title fish, and later in
vestigations by the commission made II
appear that some sudden catastrophe
had overtaken the tribe and killed the
last of the race. IL was conjectured
that some sudden turn OF the deep Arc
tic current had chilled the waters where
they live enough TO destroy every one
For years none could be found, despite
| the most careful search. The area oi
| the ocean affected was 175 miles Ions
and 25 miles broad. Commissioner Me-
DOndlu Ildliy oauSht io"i - Ao"o'
| there was JOY among the fish people
| In 1894 he caught 40 off Sandy Hook.
| Commissioner Bowers. the present IN
|. cumbent made the missing tile fish ar
| especial object OF research, but nothing
| was heard of them since 1894. Last Fri
| day the Grampus was sent out on ar
expedition, bearing a number of scien.
| tific men, among whom was DR.. III. c
| Bumpus of Dorchester. and they re-
| turned TO Woods Hole yesterday. re-
| porting that they had found school O.
| the fish about 20 miles south OF Vine
| yard sound lightship. They live IL
| about 20 fathoms of water. or much lik'
| the cod, and seemed to favor the edg'
| of the. continental plateau where tn
sea bottom suddenly 6ips downward u
| the extreme depths OF the ocean.