FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 121 



without dwelling upon points of minor importance, convinces 

 me that our fish is a distinct species, for which I would propose 

 the name of " Americatia." 



This species is taken along the whole coast of the State, 

 throughout the year, leaving the vicinity of land in the month 

 of February, and going off to deeper water. There are several 

 varieties, differing in their color and markings, probably pro- 

 duced by difference of locality or food, which are known by 

 the names of " Rock Cod,'' " Shoal Cod,'' &c. &c. 



The cod grows to a very great size. Yarrell states, that the 

 largest cod of which he has any record, weighed sixty pounds. 

 Pennant refers to one weighing seventy-eight pounds. Mr. Jon- 

 athan Johnson, Jr., of Nahant, informs me he has seen taken a 

 specimen weighing eighty-eight pounds ; and Capt. Nathaniel 

 Blanchard, of Lynn, tells me he has seen a cod weighing 

 eighty-six pounds. Both these gentlemen are experienced 

 fishermen, distinguished for their habits of accuracy and ve- 

 racity ; and I take much pleasure in here acknowledging the 

 great assistance rendered me by them, in the prosecution of 

 my task. The largest specimen of which I have ever heard, 

 Mr. Anthony Holbrook, a fishmonger in Q^uincy market, in- 

 forms me he saw taken in the spring of the year 1807, at New 

 Ledge, sixty miles southeast of Portland, Me. ; it weighed one 

 hundred and seven pounds ; and, to use his own words, " upon 

 its head were barnacles the size of his thumb." 



To Massachusetts, the cod fishery is exceedingly important, 

 supplying our markets with an excellent food throughout the 

 year, and giving employment to thousands. In some portions 

 of the State, this fishery is entirely superseded by the taking 

 of whales. Thus, while every town in the county of Barnsta- 

 ble is more or less engaged in this business, and collectively they 

 exhibit an aggregate of 212 vessels, hut a single fishing-smack 

 was licensed in Duke's county, in 1836, and not one in the 

 county of Nantucket ; the attention of the inhabitants of the 

 last two counties being entirely engaged in whaling. I have 

 ascertained that in 1836, there were engaged in the cod fish- 

 ery, from Gloucester, Marblehead, Provincetown, " South Well- 

 16 



