30 UNUTILIZED FISHES. 



THE CUNNER. 



CHARACTERS AND DISTRIBUTION. 



The cimner, or chogset, is a small fish varying from 8 to 12 inches 

 in length, with a rather stout body and moderately pointed head. 

 Upon the upper jaw there are five conspicuous canine teeth, and about 

 four on the lower jaw. The color is a brownish-blue shaded with 

 3^ellowish-brown above and brassy on the sides. There is, however, 

 considerable individual variation in the coloration. The distribution 

 of the species, according to Jordan and EAermann, is "Atlantic coast 

 from Labrador to Sandy Hook." Within this range it abounds about 

 rocks, wharves, and bridges, wdiere large numbers are caught by hook 

 and line or by jiets. There are numerous j)opular names applied to 

 this fish. It is called '* cunner " in Maine and Massachusetts. " Chog- 

 set " is a name of Indian origin. In New York it is called '' burgall," 

 at Provincetown it is " sea-perch." and at Salem '* nipper." 



USES. 



In former years the cunner fried was much esteemed as a fish for 

 the table. Storer tells of immense quantities being brought to market 

 between the middle of June and hite October. At Boston, in order 

 to have them alive for market, the}' were kept in cars with latticed 

 sides, and these cars, 3 feet deep and 12 or 15 feet long, were anchored 

 in deep water where the tide constantly flowed through them, provid- 

 ing a fresh supply of water for the fishes. As many as 5,000 fish 

 were sometimes kept in a single car, and the daily market suppl}^ w'as 

 taken from these, the cars being replenished every week or two, 

 according to the demand. Goode, in 1888, said that the cunner was 

 used as an article of food from Eastport, Me., to Boston, but else- 

 where was rarely eaten and often regarded with disgust. He esti- 

 mated the catch of the Irish market boats for Boston at 300,000 

 pounds and that of the other towns and states on the New England 

 coast at from 200,000 to 250,000 pounds. For the past ten years the 

 demand for this fish has steadily decreased, and now very few are 

 marketed. The live cars at Boston are no longer known, and what 

 few fish are sold are purchased by the poorer class of people. The 

 price is 10 or 15 cents a dozen. 



FOOD. 



The food of the cunner includes a wide range of species — in fact, 

 almost anything. Goode (1888) says: 



Their food is very similar to that of the tautog, except that they can not swal- 

 low very large shells. They feed also upon dead animal matter and are among 

 the most important scavengers of our harbors. 



