34 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



or ponds, but, within the limits of the salt water, is taken in 

 almost all the places where rock-fish is caught. The weak 

 fish is so much the companion of the basse, that I once gave 

 him the specific name of comes. Head and back brown, with 

 frequently a tinge of greenish. The spaces towards the sides 

 faintly silvery, with dusky specks. These gradually disap- 

 pear on the sides, until, on descending to the belly, a clear 

 white prevails from the chin to the tail. Month wide. Jaws 

 toothed, and, in the upper mandible one, two, or three teeth in 

 front, larger and stronger than the rest, and resembling the 

 fangs of serpents. Tliroat, in front of the oesophagus, armed 

 above and below with collections of small teeth. Eight softish 

 rays in the foremost Dorsal fin. Pectoral, Dorsal and Caudal 

 fins, light or pale brown, inclining sometimes to yellowish. 

 Anal and Yentral fins, pale yellow. Tail, even. Lower jaw 

 longer than the upper. Lateral line arched upwards, and 

 after its descent runs quite to the extremity of the caudal fin. 

 Tongue yellow, with minute black dots around the fore part ; 

 concave, with a soft and flexible margin ; has a froenum. The 

 swimming bladder is convertible to good glue. I have eaten 

 as fine blancmange from it, as from the isinglass of the stur- 

 geon. He is a fish of a goodly appearance, and is wholesome 

 and well tasted, though rather soft. Is brought to market in 

 great numbers during the summer months. He is taken by 

 the line and the seine. He is called Weak fish, as some say, 

 because he does not pull very hard after he is hooked ; or, as 

 others allege, because laboring men, who are fed upon him, 

 are weak, by reason of the deficient nourishment in that kind 

 of food. 



Certain peculiar noises under water, of a low, rumbling or 

 drumming kind, are ascribed by the fishermen to the Sque- 

 teague. Whether the sounds come from these fishes or not, it 

 is certain that during their season, they may be heard coming 

 from the bottom of the water ; and in places frequented by 

 weak fish, and not in other places; and when the weak fish 

 depart, the sounds are no more heard. 



Rays : B. 7 ; P. 16 ; V. 5 ; D. 8-28 ; A. 13 ; C. 17." 



