183S. HOUSE— No. 72. 47 



but. The flesh of this fish is rather coarse and dry, but is by many 

 highly esteemed. An unusual number of this species were brought 

 to Boston market in the early part of 1837, and were all sold at con- 

 siderable profit. Eighty large schooners of from GO to 80 tons 

 burthen, belonging to Cape Ann were thus employed. Smoked^ this 

 fish is quite a delicacy : and when dried, as is the usual habit with 

 the Greenlanders, it is, I can affirm, far from uninviting. 



Among the Jlnguillijormus — \.\\e Muraena Bostoniensis — common 

 eel — is taken along our whole coast, as well as in the rivers and 

 ponds of the state. In winter, great quantities are speared through 

 the ice : — those taken at this season, however, are not as large, nor 

 is their flesh as rich, as those which are captured in summer. 



The markets are usually supplied from the rivers, where they are 

 taken in nets. At Medford, nets are stretched across the river, hav- 

 ing in their middle a large bag, capable of containing from 15 to 20 

 bushels : as the eels are going up or down the river, they are thus 

 caugiit ; and are kept alive for the supply of the market in large 

 ditches excavated near the river, which are supplied by the tide with 

 water. About 3,000 pounds are yearly taken at Watertown. 



Although many species and even genera belonging to the second 

 great division — Clwndrop terygii — Cartilaginous fishes — are made 

 useful in other countries — they are almost entirely neglected with us. 

 The Jlcipensor sturio — common sturgeon — in the north of Europe, 

 not only furnishes, by its flesh, an acceptable food ; but its air-blad- 

 der is converted into isinglass, and its roe into caviar. 



The Raia clavata — Tfiornback — when salted, is eaten by great 

 numbers of the poor in many parts of Great Britain. And the Pe- 

 tromyzon marinus — -Sea lamprey — is highly esteemed there, as an 

 article of food. I am not aware that any species are taken for use 

 by our fishermen, save the Carcharias glaucus — Blue Shark — and 

 the Spinax acanthias — Picked dog-fish — and these only, occasion- 

 ally ; although both, at some seasons of the year might be taken in 

 large quantities, and would prove of no inconsiderable value. The 

 liver of the former furnishes a valuable oil. Seven gallons of oil 

 are not unfrequently extracted from the liver of a single fish. And 

 although it is generally used only by the curriers, yet, when care- 

 fully prepared by boiling the fresh liver, it is as good as ichale oil, 



