151 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



with in increased numbers ; they disappear during the unpleasant weather in Novem- 

 ber. At George's Banks, these immature fishes are not found ; there, the herring are 



full grown. 



In different portions of Massachusetts Bay the herring has been taken by " torch- 

 ing"; and it is the opinion of many intelligent fishermen, that this method of capturing 

 them has been one of the means of their being less frequent upon our coast than they 

 were formerly. They are thus taken. A large torch is attached to the bows of the 

 boat, which is rowed very fast ; the fish, attracted by the light, follow the boat, and with 

 a dip-net are caught in large numbers. 



The Clupea minima, Peck, is undoubtedly the young of this fish. They are found 

 from half an inch to over a foot in length. When half grown they are called Spilling, 

 and are much sought for cod-bait, being preferred to anything else by all fish. A man 

 can frequently catch many fish with these when he has not had a bite with clams and 



mussels* 



Massachusetts, Lesueur, Storer. New Hampshire, Peck. Connecticut, Linsley. 



New York, Mitchill, Dekay. 



GENUS II. ALOSA, Cut. 

 Upper jaw with a deep notch in the centre ; in other respects like the Clupea. 



Alosa pr^stabilis, DeArty. 



The American Shad. 



(Plate XXVI. Fig. 2.) 



Clupea sapidissana, Wilson, Rees's EncyclopKd. (Amer. edit.) ; catalogued, but not described. . 



» " Raf., Amer. Month. Mag., II. p. 205. 



Clupea alosa, Shad, Belknap, Hist. New Hampshire, ill. p. 130. 



« « " Mitch., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., i. p. 449. 



Clupea indigena, Sprat Herring, Mitch., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., I. p. 454 (young). 

 Alosa vulgaris, Common Shad, Storer, Report, p. 116. 

 Alosa pmstabilis, American Shad, Dekay, Report, p. 255, pi. 15, fig. 41. 

 Alosa sapidissima, Shad, Linsley, Cat. of Fishes of Connecticut, Silliman's Journal, xlvii. 



« " Stoker, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Scries, II. p. 458. 



« " " Synopsis, p. 206. 



VAlose savoureuse, Alausa prcestabilis, Cuv. etVAL., xx. p. 421. 



Color. The upper portion of the sides, including the opercula, cupreous ; the lower 

 portion of the sides silvery, with a greenish tinge ; the abdomen is pearly ; the top of 



* Although, the young of this species is so acceptable to the cod and haddock, yet they will not touch 

 young alewives, nor in fact any fish that is spawned in fresh water. 



