190 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



remainder are of a uniform height, to the fleshy portion of the tail. It is stout and 

 rounded, ending abruptly. 



The pectorals arise just beneath the posterior angle of the operculum ; they are 

 rounded posteriorly. 



The ventrals are composed of a single ray, bifurcated at their lower third ; the 

 outer portion being the shorter. 



The anal fin arises at the posterior extremity of the longer portion of the ventral ray, 

 and about opposite the tenth dorsal ray, on a line with which fin it terminates. The 

 first four or five rays of this fin are the shortest. 



The caudal fin is slightly expanded and nearly straight at its extremity. 



The fin rays are as follows : — D. 10, GO. P. 16. V. 1. A. 55. C. 18. 



Length, seventeen inches. 



Remarks. This species is known by the fishermen of Massachusetts Bay as the 

 " Squirrel-Hake." It seldom exceeds two pounds in weight, while the P. Amerkanus, 

 when full grown, often weighs more than thirty pounds. 



GENUS VIT. BROSMIUS, Cuv. 



Body elongated ; a single dorsal fin extending the whole length of the back. One 

 barbel at the chin. Ventral fins fleshy. 



Brosmius flavescens, Lesueur. 



The CusL 



(Plate XXIX. Fig. 2.) 



Le Brosme jaune, Brosmius Jlavescens, Lesueur, Menioircs du Museum, v. p. 158, pi. 16. 

 Gadus (Brosmius) jlavescens, Lesueur, Yellow Tusk, Ricii., Fauna Boreal. Americ., m. p. 252. 

 Brosmius vulgaris, Cuv., CusJc, Storer, Report, p. 136. 



" " (?), Cusk, DEKAr, Report, p. 2S9. 



Brosmius Jlavescens, Lesueur, Storer, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 473. 



" " Storer, Synopsis, p. 221. 



Color. The back is of a brownish color in the larger specimens ; the sides yellowish, 

 and sometimes of a decided yellow ; frequently, in very large specimens, the fish is 

 whitish, with brownish patches, appearing as if abraded; beneath, white. In the 

 smaller specimens, the body is of a uniform dark-slate color in some specimens ; while 

 in others six or eight transverse yellow bands are seen. The dorsal, anal, and caudal 



