﻿HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 371 



Description. Body elongated. The length of the head is equal to one fourth the 

 length of the entire fish. The eyes are large, oblong ; their longest diameter equal to 

 the distance between them. The lips are large and fleshy. The lower jaw the longer. 

 The jaws are furnished with two rows of strong, sharp teeth, the inner of which is 

 larger and incurved. The nostrils are double ; the anterior is tubular, the posterior the 

 larger. 



The lateral line commences at the posterior superior angle of the operculum, and, 

 making a high curve above the pectorals, assumes just back of their posterior extremity 

 a straight line, which is continued to the rays of the caudal fin. 



The dorsal fin arises over the anterior third of the eye, and terminates at the fleshy 

 portion of the caudal fin. The highest rays of this fin are six times the height of 

 those above the base of the pectorals. 



The pectorals arise just back of the posterior angle of the operculum. 



The ventrals are small, and situated beneath the base of the pectorals. The third 

 ray is the longest. 



The anal fin arises beneath the posterior half of the pectorals, and terminates oppo- 

 site the dorsal fin. 



Two apertures anterior to the anal fin ; the anterior, the anus ; the posterior, the 

 smaller, the urinary outlet. 



The fin rays are as follows, in two specimens examined : — 

 D. 99. P. 17. V. 6. A. 73. C. 18. 

 D. 100. P. 16. V. 6. A. 74. C. 17. 



Length, three to six feet 



Remarks. In some rare instances, the eyes of this species are reversed, being situated 

 on the left side of the fish. 



By far the greatest quantity of halibut brought to Boston market is taken at 

 George's Banks, twenty thousand pounds' weight being frequently captured at that 

 place in a day or two, by the crew of a single smack, constituting what is called a 

 " trip." Considerable numbers, however, are taken along our coast. Nantucket Shoals 

 have for many years been a favorite resort for the halibut fishers, and formerly many were 

 taken there. Captain Atwood informs me that, with a crew of eight men, he has caj)- 

 tured there in a single day 7,300 pounds' weight of this species. They have of late years 

 become more scarce. In the spring of 18-45, four men, from the 20th of April to the 

 15th of May, landed 13,000 pounds, which they took on the south side of Cape Cod, 

 and which sold in Boston market for ^ 390. About eight or nine miles directly north 

 of Race Point is a bank, which is called the Middle Bank ; between this bank and 

 Eace Point the water is from about twenty-five to twenty-eight fathoms deep, with a 



