41,8 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



Meanwhile Mr. Allen had written to Professor Baird, who also ad- 

 dressed a series of questions to Mr. Banna. Under date of September 



22 Mr. Manna replied, giving the same in 

 substance to both Mr. Allen and Professor 

 Baird. The letter to the latter was as fol- 

 lows : 



" To the first question I answer, yes. 

 From the head to the tail (exclusive of the 

 head) it did look very much like an eel. 

 Second, the body was round or very near 

 that form. From the head (exclusive of 

 the same) toward the tail was about 12 or 

 15 feet. The tail was like that of a com- 

 mon eel. Third, the color of its back was 

 fof a slate or fish color 5 belly, grayish- 

 bo white. Fourth, there were two fins, one 

 S on either side, a little abaft the head. They 

 I were not stiff-pointed fins like the shark or 

 ^ sword-fish, but more like the side-fins of 

 the cod or sun-fish, only they were in size 

 to correspond with the fish. The top or 

 dorsal fin was like the corresponding tin 

 on the cod. I do not know whether it was 

 stationary or closed, like the top fin of the 

 mackerel and other fish of the same species. 

 To the fifth question I answer, no. All the 

 fins there were on the tail were like those 

 of the eel. Sixth, no. Seventh, there was 

 no projection, elevation, or crest forward 

 of the dorsal fin. The skin Mas like that 

 of the dog;, hut very much finer. The head 

 did resemble that of the shark, only more 

 *" stunted, i. e., it did not lengthen out like 

 2 the shark's. It looked more like the head 

 5 of the sucker. The mouth was very small, 

 I not any larger than the mouth of a good- 

 | sized dog-fish, with fine, briery teeth, and 

 located at the extreme end of the head or 

 nose. The fish was dead when caught. 

 Its mouth was open, and the smallness and 

 location of the same attracted my atten- 

 tion more than any other part of the fish. 

 Inclosed you will find a drawing, as near 

 as I can recollect, of the fish. 

 " New Harbor, Me., September 22, 1880." 



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