260 LABROIDES. 



The mouth is small, lips readily turn back from 

 the teeth, which are sharp, small and rounded at 

 the base, being not far from sixteen in each jaw, 

 projecting at different angles. On the back is one 

 long, stiff rayed fin, which is erected or laid back 

 at the pleasure of the fish, often troublesome, on 

 that account, in disengaging it from the hook, as 

 the fingers are sometimes severely wounded by 

 the points of the spines, of which there are 

 eighteen. The lateral line is not always distinct ; 

 gill cover in three pieces ; caudal fin nearly square 

 at the end, pectorals broad, strong, and armed 

 with naked spines ; and the skin covered with 

 small, hard scales. 



This fish is one of the most common on the at- 

 lantic coast of New England, taken in all weather 

 and at all places, where the tide ebbs and flows 

 freely, from spring till autumn. 



This fish is the vexation of anglers, being 

 always at hand to nibble the bait, and too ingenious 

 and active in picking the hook, to be caught, un- 

 less the apparatus is well prepared for it. A 

 small, twisted hook, well covered with the mus- 

 cular part of a clam, is the most successful bait, 

 and the fishermen should begin his operations on 

 the first of the flood. 



Millions on millions are scooped up in nets, 

 very similar in construction to the metallic hoop- 



