96 AMKRICAN FISHES. 



It is, 1 presume, at this day eutirely unuccessary to atate, that Dr. 

 Mitchil was perfectly right as to the distinct character of the American 

 fiibh, and its being utterly unknown, and non-existent in Europe ; and 

 Smith is wrong in every possible particular; the fish to which he 

 refers it, the Sea Bass of Europe, Lahrax Lvpus of Cuvier, Perca 

 Labrax of Linnaeus, being altogether a different fish, though of the 

 same family, perfectly distinct both in habits and appearance. 



Of the Sea Trout, Smith says : — 



" They are found, as may be inferred from the name, in the salt and 

 brackish waters of tide rivers nnd inland bays, in various parts of this 

 and the adjoining States. When taken from the salt-water early in 

 spring, they are in high perfection, and nothing can exceed their pis- 

 catory symmetry. The general appearance of the skin is of silvery 

 brightness, the back being of a greenish and mackerel complexion ; 

 the spots of a vermillion color, mixed with others of faint yellow, and 

 sometimes slightly tinged with purple, extend the whole length on 

 either side of the lateral line ; t^e fins are light in color and firm in 

 texture, and, together with the tail, are rather shorter and more 

 rounded than the common. Trout. They have a firm compactness of 

 form from head to tail, which accounts for the superior sprightliness of 

 their movement ; the head and mouth are very small, and the latter 

 never black inside, like the common or fresh-water Trout; the flesh 

 is even redd or, or rather, we would say, more pink-colored than tbe 

 Salmon, to which, by many, they are preferred as a delicacy, having, 

 like the Salmon, much of what is called curd, or fat between the flakes. 



" A fish of a pound weight measures about eleven inches in length. 

 Their average size is considerably larger than the fresh-water, or Brook 

 Trout — having been taken in the waters to which we refer — Waquoit 

 bay, upon Cape Cod, and Fireplace, Long Island — of nearly five 

 pounds' weight ; such instances, however, are rare, three pounds being 

 considered a very large fish. We do not remember ever seeing a poor 

 fish of this kind taken. They are invariably in good condition, let the 

 size be what it may," &c., &c. 



I have quoted this passage, merely for the purpose of warning my 

 readers, in a few words, that there is no such thing ; and that the 

 whole of the above refers merely to the Brook Trout. 



All the varii'ties and species of SalmoiiUIcv, with the excoptiou of 



