Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1910 Excerpt: ... HABITS AND LIFE HISTORY OF THE TOADFISH (OPSANUS TAU). By E. W GUDGER, Ph. D., State Normal and Industrial College, Greensboro, . C. Jt MATERIALS AND METHODS OF STUDY. The material on which this paper is based was collected and the notes were made while the author was a temporary assistant in the United States Fisheries Laboratory at Beaufort, N. C., during the summers of 1906, 1907, and 1908. The collections were made in all parts of the harbor, but the best collecting ground was a shoal lying directly in front of and not farther distant from the south front of the laboratory than 100 yards. The "nests," consisting of tin cans, empty Pinna shells, pieces of board, etc., were brought in in buckets of water and placed in aquariums or in shallow pans under jets of running salt water, or in a large tank 3 by 7j feet, filled with fresh salt water to a depth of 6 inches. In some of these aquariums there were placed nests with guarding fish; in others nests without any fish; while in the tank there were always numbers of fish, both adults and half grown. The nests thus placed were perfectly accessible and could be inspected at any hour of the twenty-four. Daily they were taken out, put in shallow pans of water, and minutely examined under a glass. Selected eggs and larvae were put in killing fluids, careful notes were taken, and at intervals the eggs and nests were photographed.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ADULT TOADFISH. For a description of this singular fish the writer can not do better than quote Doctor Gill (1907) and Miss Clapp (1899), since their descriptions leave little or nothing to be added. Doctor Gill says: They the toadfishes have an oblong form, a broad flattish head, restricted lateral gill openings, two dorsal fins, the anterior very small and ..."
