HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



53 



slightly beyond the membrane. There are five finlets back of the second dorsal fin ; the 

 fifth is deeply divided, making it appear like two finlets. 



The pectorals are just beneath the origin of the lateral line ; they are triangular, and 

 their length is equal to the height of the first dorsal ray. 



The ventrals are fan-shaped ; they are situated just in front of the first dorsal fin : 

 their rays are multifid. 



The anal fin arises back of the second dorsal fin, and like it is emarginated above, and 

 has five finlets posterior to it. A small spine, projecting backwards, is situated at the 

 origin of the anal fin. 



The caudal fin is deeply forked, and has at its base two lateral carina. 



The fin rays are as follows : — D. 9 - 1 1 or 12. P. 19. V. 5. A. 12 or 13. C. 18*. 



Length, one to two feet. 



Remarks. The many points of resemblance to the Scomber colias, Gmel. presented 

 by this fish, caused me to consider it as identical with that species, and thus I described 

 it in my " Report on the Fishes of Massachusetts." With this opinion Dekay coincided 

 in his "Report on the Fishes of New York"; although we might infer that he was not 

 perfectly convinced of our species being the foreign fish, from the following sentence at 

 the conclusion of his description : " If this species is identical with the S. colias of Eu- 

 rope, it has a wide geographical range," &c. Subsequent investigation has convinced me 

 that the species under consideration is indigenous to the American coast. It differs from 

 the S. colias in its more robust figure, its markings, and the number of rays in the first 

 dorsal fin. I know of no other species for which it can be mistaken. With a melan- 

 choly pleasure I would dedicate it to the memory of the lamented naturalist who has ac- 

 complished so much for the science of our country. 



This fish is of late years found more rarely along our coast than formerly. Captain Blan- 

 chard, of Lynn, informs me, that during some seasons but two or three individuals are 

 taken by the fishermen. Captain Atwood has seen but a single specimen during the 

 last four or five years ; many years since, it was abundant at Provincetown, and would 

 run up the small creeks, and be left by the tide. This fish usually weighs about three 

 quarters of a pound ; generally speaking, it is as fat as the Scomber vernalis, but it is 

 not considered so good to eat ; by epicures, however, it is thought to be excellent, even 

 preferable to the common mackerel. Dekay states that he has seen specimens nearly 

 two feet in length in the New York market. 



Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Linsley. New York to Carolina, Dekay. 



