250 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



The pectorals are quite strong, falciform, higher than the length of the head, and con- 

 nected posteriorly by a membrane to the body. 



The semiquadrate ventrals are situated far back on the body; anus large, situated 

 between the ventrals. 



The anal fin is formed like the second dorsal, and is opposite it. 



A double series of mucous pores point out the lateral fine. On a line with the 

 origin of the second dorsal fin, continuous with the lateral line, a wide carina runs on 

 each side to the centre of the tail. The space between the second dorsal and the tail 

 is equal to the length of the pectorals ; at the posterior portion of tins space is a cres- 

 cent-shaped ridge with a groove behind. 



The lobes of the caudal fin are unequal ; the upper is much the larger, with a slight 

 emargination at the superior posterior portion. This emargination is not referred to by 

 Dekay in his description ; and it is omitted in his figure. The specimen which I 

 described in my " Report," measured eight feet, and near its anus, embedded in the 

 flesh, was a specimen of the " Anthosoma Smithii " — Leach. 



Length, three to ten feet. Weight, between two and four hundred pounds. 



Remarks. This is the most common species of shark found in Massachusetts. It is 

 met with during the summer and autumn. The fishermen are much annoyed by having 

 their hooks and lines bitten off by this species while fishing for cod and mackerel, and 

 their nets seriously injured, and not unfrequently ruined by them, while fishing for the 

 latter species. It is more plenty upon some portions of the coast of Maine than in our 

 bay. Captain Atwood informs me that while he was fishing for mackerel with nets at 

 Monhegan, Maine, in September, 1845, his boat's crew of four men took twelve individ- 

 uals ; and another boat's crew of six men captured nineteen in a single night ; and he 

 adds, he should judge that one hundred and fifty at least, were taken during three weeks 

 he continued to fish there. Except for the oil furnished by this species it is worthless to 

 the fisherman. Seven gallons of oil are frequently extracted from the liver of a 

 single fish, and eleven and a half gallons have been taken from one. Of late years this 

 fish has yielded less oil than formerly, so that they are now scarcely thought worth 

 saving. Formerly, a barrel of oil was frequently made from the livers of eleven fish, 

 and Captain Atwood tells me that, many years since, his father even procured a barrel of 

 oil from eight livers ; not selecting the largest but employing large and small indiscrim- 

 inately ; but now, at least one hundred livers would be required to furnish this amount of 

 oil. So that the procuring oil from this fish, which was once a regular business, has been 

 almost entirely abandoned. When this oil is carefully prepared by boiling the fresh liver, 



