﻿326 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



shrimp, or earth-worm ; or at some seasons of the year, with the artificial fly, more 

 especially in the fresh ponds. 



" Two other methods of taking them have been resorted to in the small streams, both 

 of which deserve a passing notice ; the first is by titillation, so called, and the second, 

 hooking them up by the caudal extremity, decidedly the meanest way of taking them. 



" The method of taking them by titillation is this. About the spawning season they 

 are found, for the most part, in the small and narrow head streams, and seem more 

 sluggish than at any other season of the year, and less inclined to take the bait. Hav- 

 ing arrived at the edge of the stream, the hand is carefully and gently passed along 

 under the banks, till it comes in contact with the fish, generally near the tail. The 

 titillation then commences, and the hand is made to approach towards the head, till 

 sufficiently forward to prevent slipping through the fingers, when by a sudden grasp it 

 is landed upon the shore, the fish remaining perfectly quiet during the process. This 

 mode of taking them I have practised in one stream three years in succession, and 

 taken many fine trout. 



" The unscientific mode of hooking them up by the caudal extremity is also prac- 

 tised at the spawning season, when they are averse to taking the bait, and when and 

 where the stream is deeper and wider. The manner is as follows. A large-sized 

 hook, made very sharp, is fastened to the end of a long, straight stick or piece of 

 whalebone. The fish is then sought, and generally found beneath the root of an old tree, 

 or under the shadow of a log, with the head and part of the body out of sight ; the 

 hook is then carefully introduced near the extremity of the fish, and by a sudden jerk 

 is inserted so as effectually to secure him." 



Labrador, H. E. Storer. Maine, Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Lixsley, 

 Ayres. Vermont, Thompson. New York, Mitchill, Dekay. Pennsylvania, Dekay. 

 Ohio, Kirtlaxd. Lake Huron, Richardson. 



GENUS n. OSMERUS, Aetedi. 



Body elongated, covered with small scales ; two dorsal fins, the first mth rays, the 

 second fleshy, without rays ; ventral fins in a vertical line under the commencement of 

 the first dorsal fin. Teeth on the jaws and tongue very long, two distinct rows on each 

 palatine bone, none on the vomer, except at the most anterior part. Branchiostegous 

 rays, eight. 



