HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 161 



The caudal fin is very deeply forked. 



The fin rays are as follows: — D. 18-3. P. 15. A. 11 -2-3. C. 17. 



Remarks. This species is seldom seen in Massachusetts Bay, but is a common fish at 

 some seasons of the year from Nantucket to Block Island, and has become quite an arti- 

 cle of commerce. It is generally discovered by the fishermen by the projection of its 

 dorsal fin above the surface of the water, as it is pursuing shoals of mackerel and men- 

 haden, upon which it feeds. It is occasionally taken with a hook baited with one of these 

 fishes, but almost always it is captured with an instrument called a " lily-iron," Irom the 

 form of its shafts or wings, which resemble the leaves of a lily. This instrument is 

 thrown, like a harpoon, with great force, into the fish, the attempt always being made to 

 wound the animal in front of the origin of the dorsal fin. When wounded, it sometimes 

 frees itself from the iron by its struggles ; and has been known to dive with so much 

 force towards the bottom of the sea, as to bury the sword its whole extent into the sand 

 or mud, which was proved by its appearance when taken. When unmolested, it is ob- 

 served, not unfrequently, to spring several times its length forwards, some feet above the 

 surface of the water. It appears at Gay Head about the first of June, and remains there 

 until into September. Fifteen to twenty boats are employed from Martha's Vineyard 

 and Noman's Land in this fishery. At Noman's Land, two men in a boat not unfre- 

 quently take eight in a day. When caught, their heads and fins are cut off, and they are 

 carried fresh to New Bedford market, where they are sold like the halibut, cut into slices, 

 or cut into slices and pickled or salted, and kept for sale in that state throughout the 

 year. In the first part of the season they sell fresh for four cents per pound, but late in 

 the season they do not bring more than two cents per pound. When salted, the flesh is 

 worth ^ 6 per barrel. About one third of the quantity taken is sold fresh. About two 

 hundred barrels of this species are yearly captured at Martha's Vineyard. Very rarely is 

 the flesh of this species offered for sale in Boston market, although when salted it is pre- 

 ferred by many to that of several other species. 



The largest individuals weigh about three hundred and fifty pounds. 



Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Linsley. New York, Mitchill, Dekay. 



GENUS VII. PALINURUS, Dekay. 



Preopercle serrated, with spines on its margin. Opercle with one or more flat spines, 

 more or less distinctly serrated beneath. Anal with one or more spines in front. Teeth 

 small, pointed, subequal. Body compressed, oblong. The anterior portion of the single 

 dorsal spinous. 



