82 SQUALIDES. 



fishing for cod, that quite frightened his associates 

 by its spiteful snappings. 



Dog-Fish, — Squalus Canis. A manifest dif- 

 ference is observable between the sea-dog and the 

 true dog-fish, the first, which has been described, 

 more nearly resembles the blue shark, whereas, 

 the latter, so far as it regards anatomical structure, 

 approximates the sea-wolf, — in having a long, stiff, 

 dorsal fin, hard, conical, irregular teeth, a rough 

 skin, which, when dry, is used by cabinet makers 

 for polishing wood, and by surgical instrument ma- 

 kers, for covering cases. 



It is a spiteful, voracious, cartilaginous shark, 

 — very muscular, and the eternal enemy of the 

 cod, — getting possession of the feeding ground, 

 some seasons, to the great loss of the fishermen. 

 In 1831, they were, so uncommonly numerous, that 

 the cod-fishery was attended with immense loss. 

 The dog-fish is so familiarly known along the en- 

 tire coast of the United States, that it is quite un- 

 necessary to be minute in the description. 



GEN. CARCHARIAS. 



White Shark, — Carcharias Vulgaris. All 

 sharks are a solitary, rapacious, blood-thirsty spe- 

 cies of animal, carrying slaughter and certain de- 

 struction, wherever they go. They are, as respects 

 their own element, precisely what the Bengal 



