M. HOLMES' EEPOUT 



ON THE FISHES OF MAINE, INCLUDING SOME OF THE ELEMENTARY 

 PRINCIPLES OF ICHTHYOLOGY. 



PART I. 



To thei Eon. Senate and House of Representatives 



in Legislature assembled, January, 1863 : 



Gentlemen : — In accordance with the resolves passed by your 

 honorable body at the last session, providing for a continuance of 

 the " Scientific Survey of the State," I herewith submit the fol- 

 lowing report on the Ichthyology of Maine. 



This report, I have divided into two parts, and you will find it 

 somewhat anomalous in its plan as usually followed in such cases, 

 inasmuch as it is not confined to a mere detail, or catalogue of'the 

 fishes which are found in the waters of Maine, but embraces also 

 some of the more important elementary principles of the science of 

 Ichthyology in general. My reasons for this, I trust, will, on a 

 candid consideration of the subject in all its bearings, be fully 

 appreciated and approved, 



A dry, formal catalogue of the fishes found in our State and 

 vicinity, with their technical names and synonymes, would interest 

 the experienced scientific Ichthyologist for a few moments, but the 

 people none at all. 



As Naturalist to the survey, it becomes my duty to give in 

 detail, as far as observation and facts will warrant, the natural 

 history of fishes which frequent our coast, and streams, and lakes. 



Now, the natural history of fishes treats " of their structure and 

 form — their habits and uses — their classification," and territorial 

 distribution. To do this, appropriate use must be made of the 

 peculiar language — nomenclature, or terms and phrases used, both 

 among practical fishermen, and scientific men in this department ; 

 for Ichthyology, like every other science, profession and occupa- 

 tion, has its own particular language. As a general thing, how- 



