THE NAMES OF THE MENHADEN. 569 



sent fresh to the markets. Sometimes herring oil is expressed from them. The principal herring- 

 curing establishment is at Port Madison, on Puget Sound.'' 



THE CALIFORNIA SARDINE CLUPEA SARAX. 



"This species," writes Professor Jordan, " is everywhere known as the Sardine, or by (lie 

 Italians as 'Sardina.' It is, in fact, almost exactly identical with the Sardine of Europe. It 

 reaches a length of a little less than a foot. It ranges from Cape Mendocino to Chili, and is 

 extremely abundant southward, especially in the winter, when it fills all the bays. In the 

 summer it is generally scarce southward, although still taken northward. The young are, 

 however, seen in San Diego in the summer. It is probably to some extent migratory along the 

 coast, but as little attention is paid to it, no definite data can be given. It is brought into the 

 markets when taken, and is sold with the Herring. The question of the possibility of canning it 

 in oil, like the Sardine, has been considerably discussed. It would probably prove unprofitable, 

 from the high price of labor and the uncertain supply of fish." 



174. THE MENHADEN BREVOORTIA TYRANNUS. 1 



NAMES. The Menhaden has at least thirty popular names, most of them limited in their use 

 within narrow geographical boundaries. To this circumstance may be attributed the prevailing 

 ignorance regarding its habits and migrations, among our fishermen, which has perhaps pre- 

 vented the more extensive utilization of this fish, particularly in the South. 



North of Cape Cod the name "Pogy" is almost universally in use, while in Southern New 

 England the fish is known only as the " Menhaden." These two names are derived from two 

 Indian words of the same meaning; the first being the Abnaki name " Pookagau," or " Pog- 

 haden," which means " fertilizer," while the latter is the modification of a word which in the 

 Narragausett dialect meant " that which enriches the earth." About Cape Ann, " Pogy " is par- 

 tially replaced by " Hard-head," or "Hardhead Shad," and in Eastern Connecticut by "Bony 

 Fish." In Western Connecticut the species is usually known as the "White-fish," while in New 

 York the usage of two centuries is in favor of " Mossbunker." This name is a relic of the Dutch 

 colony of New Amsterdam, having evidently been transferred from the " Scad," or " Horse 

 Mackerel," TracUurus lacerla, a fish which visits the shores of Northern Europe in immense schools, 

 swimming at the surface in much the same manner as our Menhaden, and known to the Hol- 

 landers as the " Marshbauker." New Jersey uses the New York name with its local variations, 

 such as "Bunker" and "Marshbanker." In Delaware Bay, the Potomac, and the Chesapeake, we 

 meet with the "Alewife," " Bay Alewife," " Pilcher" (Pilchard), and " Green-tail." Virginia gives 

 us " Bug-fish," " Bug-head," and " Bug-shad," referring to the parasitic crustacean found in the 

 mouths of all Southern Menhaden. In North Carolina occurs the name "Fat-back," which 

 prevails as far south as Florida, and refers to the oiliness of the flesh. In this vicinity, too, 

 the names "Yellow-tail" and "Yellow-tailed Shad" are occasionally heard, while in Southern 

 Florida the fish is called "Shiner" and "Herring." In South America, among the Portuguese, 

 the name "Savega" is in use. On the Saint John's liiver, and wherever northern fishermen are 

 found, ' Menhaden" is preferred, and it is to he hoped that this name will in time lie generally 

 adopted. A number of trade names are employed by the manufacturers in New Jersey who can 

 this fish for food; these are "American Sardine," "American Club-fish," " Shadine," and "Ocean 

 Trout." 



In 1815 the species was described by Mitchill. of New York, under the name Clupett menhaden, 



1 For a fuller account of this tish, sec un elaborate memoir in part v of the Report of the Commissioner of Fisheries. 



