HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 153 



centre of tongue. Vertical gape of mouth equal to half the length of the head. 

 Eyes large, circular, provided with a nictitating membrane ; distance between the eyes 

 less than the diameter of the eye. Nostrils situated in a groove, nearer the snout than 

 the eyes. 



The subquadrangular dorsal fin arises on the anterior half of the body. 



The fan-shaped pectorals are one third as long as high. 



The ventrals are situated opposite the dorsal, and are two thirds as high as that fin. 



The anal fin is about as long as the dorsal ; its first rays are one third as high as its 

 length. 



The caudal fin is deeply forked ; scales are continued upon the base of its rays. 



The fin rays are as follows : — D. 18. P. 19. V. 9. A. 17. C. 22. 



Length, twelve to fifteen inches. 



Remarks. This species, incorrectly called by our fishermen " English Herring," is 

 taken in great numbers on some parts of our coast. At Edgartown, it is abundant 

 from March to May ; on the south side of that place, sometimes five hundred or six 

 hundred barrels are taken in a single night. These are sold fresh, salted, or smoked. 

 When it first makes its appearance, it is sold to fishing-smacks for $1.50 per hundred 

 for bait; when it is abundant, it does not sell, for the same purpose, for more than 

 twenty-five cents per hundred. When salted, it brings three dollars per barrel. 



Until within the last twenty years, this species was exceedingly abundant at Cape 

 Cod. It came into Massachusetts Bay and Provincetown harbor in myriads from about 

 the 20th of March to the 1st of April, and continued there until June, and would 

 then leave the coast and not be seen again until the autumn. Now, it has become so 

 rare that at some seasons it is scarcely seen at all. Within the last few years, it is 

 perhaps slightly increasing. While I was visiting Race Point, Provincetown, June 25th, 

 1847, the crews of two boats captured with sweep-nets, the one a hundred and fifty 

 barrels, the other thirty-five barrels, of full-sized herring. They had never been 

 known to be taken at that season, but are generally captured there early in May. 

 They would sell for one dollar per barrel for bait, and two dollars per barrel salted. 

 The nets by which they are taken are carried out in boats a short distance from the 

 shore, and when a school of fish make their appearance, they are thrown overboard 

 outside of the fish, and thence drawn towards the shore, forcing the fish forwards into 

 shoal water. The young of this species are called Spirling, and serve as excellent 

 bait for codfish. They are taken in nets which are about forty yards long and fifteen 

 feet deep, with meshes an inch and a half across. Within the last few years these 

 young fishes, which in the fall of the year are three or four inches long, have been met 



