To George B. Emerson, Esq., 



Chairman of the Commissioners for the Botanical and Zoologi- 

 cal Survey of the Commonwealth. 



Dear Sir : 



In presenting the accompanying Report upon the Fishes of Massa- 

 chusetts, I will offer no apology for the manner in which the duty has 

 been performed, conscious that all available opportunities have been 

 improved, and every effort has been made to render it worthy the 

 approbation of those by whose suggestion it was undertaken. I must, 

 however, be allowed the privilege of showing why more has not been 

 done — why a larger number of species has not been collected and 

 described — why, in a word, a nearer approach has not been made to a 

 perfect catalogue of our Ichthyology. In June, 1837, I received, with 

 several other gentlemen, an appointment as Commissioner to prosecute 

 the Zoological Survey of the State. So trifling were these tasks con- 

 sidered, — so much was supposed to have been already done by the 

 gentlemen who had furnished the previous catalogues, that the Com- 

 missioners were expected to perform their respective duties in a single 

 season. To prepare a catalogue of our Fishes in a single year, I felt 

 was impossible — but, at the same time, was willing and ready to do all 

 in my power towards the accomplishment of so desirable an object. I 

 at once commenced my labors, by writing to all parts of the State 

 from whence I could hope for the slightest aid, and by engaging upon 

 the spot the services of intelligent fishermen. I had thus labored for 

 months, almost despairing of accomplishing any thing satisfactorily, 

 when, in the latter part of that year, it was intimated that another sea- 

 son would probably be allowed the Commissioners for a continuance 

 of their investigations. Having found the previous catalogue, upon 

 examination, so exceedingly erroneous and defective that no reli- 

 ance could be placed in it, and consequently that no reference could 

 be made to the fishes therein contained, I at once determined to at- 

 tempt the formation of another, entirely independent of it. To make 

 a catalogue, however, without at the same time furnishing some char- 

 acters by which species could be recognised, would be presenting a 

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