1838. HOUSE— No. 72. 41 



this last port, they are sent over the entire western country. The 

 inferior quality are shipped to the West India islands. 



I have not been able to learn with accuracy tlie number of vessels 

 engaged exclusively in this fishery ; in many towns, the same vessels 

 are used at different seasons of the year for the Cod as well as the 

 Mackerel fishery. I have ascertained however, that there were 202 

 vessels employed in this fishery in 1S36, in the county of Barnsta- 

 ble, and that of this number, 98 belonged to Provincetown, which 

 were valued at $147,000. 



In the family Gobioides, the Jlnarrhicas lupus — Sea-ioolf, is not 

 only eaten by the inhabitants of several countries of the north of 

 Europe, and considered by them excellent food, but is even here 

 esteemed by many, and thought inferior to but very few of our 

 fishes. 



In the family Labroides, the Lahrus Americanus — Tautog, is 

 taken in considerable quantities upon some portions of the coast, and 

 in lis fresh state finds a ready sale in the larger markets. * I am in- 

 formed that in 1836, three smacks were constantly employed in the 

 harbor of South Wellfleet, in the Tautog fishery, from April to No- 

 vember, and that it was a profitable occupation to those engaged in it. 



At New Bedford, 300 pounds oi^ fresh tautog have been sold by a 

 single market boat in a day. This fish is also pickled at the last 

 place, and may be kept in a weak brine for a long time — in this 

 state, they are considered by epicures, a great delicacy. The Cren- 

 ilabrus burgall too — Marine perch — or, as it is most commonly 

 called, " Citnner," is for several months in the year, taken along our 

 whole sea-board, — not only by the fishermen's nets in myriads, but 

 by the needy and destitute, from our wharves and bridges, and is 

 one of the most common, as well as excellent species found in our 

 waters. 



The family Cyprinidce includes many of our fresh water fishes, 

 which, although not extensively used, are very good food. 



Thus several species of the genus Catastomus — Suckers — are 



frequently found in our market in considerable numbers : so also of 



the genera Cyprinus and Leuciscus, the species of which being 



equally palatable, and somewhat similar in their appearance to the 



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