182 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



forty quintals of pollack to a boat. When prepared in the same manner as the cod when 

 intended for dun-fish, with proper care and good salt, this is really an excellent fish, 

 and its value is increased from nine shillings to three or four dollars per quintal. 



Maine, Massachusetts, Stoker. Connecticut, Linsley. New York, Mitchill, 

 Dekay. 



GENUS III. LOTA, Ctrv. 



Body elongated. Two dorsal fins. A single anal fin. One or more barbels on the 

 chin. 



Lota compressa, Lesueur. 



The Eel-pout. 

 (Plate XXVIII. Fig. 4.) 



Gadus compressus, Lesdeuk, Jouro. Acad. Nat. Sciences, I. p. 84. 



Le MolveHunt (Molva Iluntiu), Lesueub, Me'moires du Museum, v. p. 161. 



Lota compressa, Eel-pout, Storer, Report, p. 134. 



" " " Thompson, Hist, of Vermont, p. 147. 



" " Compressed Burbot, Dekay, Report, p. 285, pi. 78, figs. 244, 245. 



" " Storer, Mem. Amcr. Acad., New Series, II. p. 471. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 219. 



Color. The back and sides of this species are of a yellowish-brown, variegated with 

 darker spots, which are more distinct anterior to the dorsal fin ; abdomen yellowish. 

 The first dorsal fin is lighter than the body, and variegated with black. Upon the 

 lower portion of the second dorsal is a row of dark-colored spots, and its edge is mar- 

 gined with black. 



Description. The body in front of the first dorsal is cylindrical, beginning to be 

 compressed at the sides at the extremity of the pectorals, gradually becoming more so 

 towards the tail, so that the caudal rays appear as a membranous prolongation of the 

 body. The entire surface is covered with minute scales, appearing like cup-shaped de- 

 pressions. The head is very much compressed above ; its length is equal to one sixth the 

 length of the body. The eyes are circular ; the distance between them equal to one 

 fourth the length of the head. The nostrils are double; from the back of the anterior 

 nostril a very minute cirrhus is suspended. The upper jaw is the longer ; to the chin 

 is attached a cirrhus of a length nearly equal to the distance between the eyes. The 

 jaws and palatines are armed with numerous minute, sharp teeth. 



The lateral line arises above the operculum, and extends in a straight course to the 

 middle of the fleshy portion of the tail. 



