50 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Elisha Bartlett, M. D., of Lowell, for his interesting account of the fisheries of the 

 Merrimack River ; 



J. B. Fors)th, M. D., of Chelsea, formerly of Sandwich, for much useful information 

 respecting the fishes taken along " the Cape " ; 



Jonathan Johnson, Jr., of Nahant, for several very rare species, and many valuahle 

 observations concerning more common fishes. 



To Captain Nathaniel Blanchard, a veteran fisherman of Lynn, and Leroy M. Yale, 

 M. D., of Holmes's Hole, I am most deeply indebted ; — to the former, for his constant 

 and unwearied efforts to serve me amid the fatigues of his arduous occupation, during 

 the entire period I was engaged in the State Survey, and for many judicious remarks 

 and valuable details imparted to me, respecting the fishes and fisheries of the northern 

 shore of Massachusetts Bay ; and to the latter, for his invaluable aid. To him I am 

 not only obliged for specimens of nearly one fifth of all the species I have described, 

 and which, but for him, I could not have procured, but also for many specimens of more 

 common species, and much valuable information respecting them. Since these obser- 

 vations were made, my excellent friend, Dr. Yale, while in the faithful discharge of his 

 professional duties, contracted a malignant disease, the attack of which he survived but 

 a few days. By his death, science has lost an enthusiastic votary, and his profession 

 a most honorable member. 



Durin"- the last six or eight years, no individual has rendered me such essential 

 assistance as Captain Nathaniel £. Atwood, of Provincetown. For nearly thirty years a 

 practical fisherman, tiioroughly acquainted with the habits of most of our fishes, and 

 willin-^ and ready to do all in his power to advance my wishes, he has placed me 

 under obligations which I cannot express. For several fishes never before described, 

 and for much acceptable information respecting each of our marketable species, I am 

 indebted to him, the best practical ichthyologist in our State. 



To Professor Agassiz my thanks are due for many valuable suggestions in the prepa- 

 ration of this work, and to his accomplished draughtsman, Mr. Sonrel, for the admirable 

 plates which illustrate it. 



In my nomenclature, I have been guided, as far as possible, by the principle which 

 would give the credit of a species to the author who first placed it under its appropriate 

 genus. This plan, I am led to understand, is about being adopted by our most eminent 

 naturalists. 



In addition to the works mentioned in my " Synopsis of the Fishes of North 

 America," the following have been consulted in the preparation of this paper : — 



