200 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



A species of ^^ Exocetus,^' is sometimes taken upon our 

 coast ,• this may prove to be one of the species, described by 

 Le Sueur, in the second volume of the " Journal of the Acad- 

 emy of Natural Sciences." 



Another species of " Salmo'"' — Trout, is, I am satisfied, from 

 the representations of correspondents and fishermen, found in 

 our state. I have repeatedly seen a splendid large trout from 

 Winnipiseogee Lake in New Hampshire, and Uro beautiful 

 species at least, from Sebago Pond in Maine, in our market ; 

 but have met myself with but one species taken in our waters. 



A larger '^ Eel " than the species I have described, is found 

 at Holmes Hole. Dr. Yale writes me that " a Sea eel, weigh- 

 ing from twelve to fifteen pounds, is not unfrequently taken 

 about Neman's Land, by the fishermen, and is considered good 

 eating." He has seen but one specimen, and that was taken 

 some years ago in the Vineyard sound. 



Dr. Yale tells me that a species of ^^ Zygoena'^ — Hammer- 

 headed shark, is common at Holmes Hole. 



A species of " Trygon^'' is met with also, at Holmes Hole. 

 Thus Dr. Yale writes me, " I have seen frequently in this 

 harbor and have assisted in taking them, but owing to their 

 poisonous nature when wounded by their sting, we have been 

 rather cautious about taking them into the boats ; so that we 

 seldom see one on shore. One or two individuals in this vi- 

 cinity have come well nigh losing their lives by a wound from 

 them. In July and August they are abundant on the flats in 

 the harbor here." In the first volume of the " Journal of the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences," Le Sueur describes three 

 species of "i?m«," one found at Newport, R. I., and two at 

 Egg Harbor, N. J. These all evidently belong to the genus 

 " 7Vyo-07?,," Adans ; and as the species belonging to this 

 genus are commonly called ^'■Sting rays,''' this species spoken 

 of by Dr. Yale, is much more likely to be one of these, found 

 in neighboring waters, than one known to exist at a distance 

 of thousands of miles ; therefore I shall not allow the ^^ pasti- 

 naca^' — the European species — is our fish, until some natural- 

 ist may have settled the matter satisfactorily. 



