58 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



the middle of the 9th month. But it is remarkable that in 

 the year 1764, the very year in which the sickness ended, they 

 all disappeared, and that none have been taken since." Occa- 

 sionally, for the last twenty years, a few straggling specimens, 

 very small, have been taken, but they were rarely seen until 

 within the last ten. years ; during this latter period they have 

 gradually increased in number, and, generally speaking, have 

 been of a much larger size than when they were first observed. 

 Now, they visit the coast south of Cape Cod, at Nantucket, 

 and New Bedford, and Holmes Hole, in large numbers, and are 

 occasionally captured weighing fourteen pounds. It is caught 

 from shore by throwing a drail — a hook fixed into a piece of 

 bone or ivory, and sometimes pewter, something in the form 

 of a fish, Avith brass wire around the line next it, to prevent its 

 being bitten off by the strong jaws of the fish ; they are also 

 caught in a boat under sail with a good breeze, the line drag- 

 ging behind ; and they have been taken with a seine — thus in 

 a number of the Nantucket Enquirer, July 8th, 1837, I find 

 the following : " a few days since, there were caught at one 

 haul, 241 blue fish, 108 scuppaugs or poggies, 28 basse and 19 

 shad, in all 396 fish, weighing about half a ton." On the 25th 

 October. 1837, a specimen of this species, weighing about 

 three pounds, was taken at Green Island, by Mr. Morgan, of 

 that place, and sent to Mr. Newcomb, Jr. of Quincy Market ; 

 this is the only specimen I have known to be taken in Massa- 

 chusetts Bay. In its flavor, this fish resembles the mackerel, 

 and is highly esteemed by many as an article of food : but it 

 is excessively fat, and cannot always be borne by the stomach. 

 In the early part of summer it is very lean : towards the latter 

 part of summer and the commencement of autumn, it is in a 

 state of perfection for the epicure. By the kind attentions of 

 the Hon. Hezekiah Barnard, of Nantucket ; George B. Emer- 

 son. Esq., President of the Boston Society of Natural His- 

 tory ; and Dr. Yale, I have had an opportunity of examining 

 several specimens. To the first of these gentlemen, I am in- 

 debted for much of the information obtained respecting this 

 species. 



