HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 215 



caudal fin, which is again connected with the anal ; the three forming one con- 

 tinuous fin. The widest portions of these fins are at a short distance in front of 

 their posterior termination. The number of rays in these united fins is about four 

 hundred and fifty-five. 



The anus is small, and situated just anterior to the anal fin. 



The pectorals are directly back of the branchial aperture ; they are somewhat 

 rounded at their extremities, and are composed of sixteen rays. 



Length, twenty-four to thirty-four inches. 



Remarks. Dr. Mitchill, in his paper on the " Fishes of New York," published 

 in 1815, briefly refers to this species, which he incorrectly considered the Anguilla 

 vulgaris, Bloch. Lesueur, in the first volume of the " Journal of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia," published in 1817, describes it as a new species, 

 with sufficient accuracy to be readily distinguished, under the name of Murtena 

 Bostoniensis. Subsequently, in February, 1818, Dr. Mitchill minutely and clearly 

 described it as the Anguilla vulgaris. In my " Report on the Fishes of Massachu- 

 setts," I included it under the name given it by him who first knew it to be, and 

 described it as, a new species. Dr. Dekay has since called it Anguilla' tenuirostris. 



In my " Report," &c, I included a species which I supposed to be the argentea 

 of Lesueur. This was also contained in my " Synopsis of the Fishes of North 

 America." In October, 1845, my friend, the late Dr. Yale, sent me a living speci- 

 men of this fish from Holmes's Hole, where it is called the Neshaw eel. I carefully 

 compared this specimen with the A. Bostoniensis, and could not perceive charac- 

 teristics sufficiently well marked to make them distinct species. The color of the 

 Neshaw eel is rather more of a brown than greenish, and the abdomen is destitute 

 of the yellowish tinge possessed in the common specimens in the market ; but these 

 differences may be dependent upon its locality. Dr. Yale writes : " The Neshaw eel 

 is taken in all the ponds and lagoons connected with the sea on the Vineyard ; 

 and are taken in October and November in pots while making their way from the 

 ponds to the sea. It is said, that, when the openings from the ponds are closed, 

 they pass over the sand in the night." 



The common eel of Massachusetts is taken along our entire coast, as well as in 

 the rivers and ponds of the State. At some seasons, spring and winter, for instance, 

 great numbers are brought to market from the mouths of the neighboring rivers, 

 upon the muddy bottoms of which they live. They meet with a ready sale. So 

 great is the demand sometimes that it cannot be answered. During the winter this 

 species is speared, holes being cut through the ice for this purpose. In spring the 



