56 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



The fin rays are as follows: D. 9. 1 - 12. P. 18. V. 1 -5. A. 3-11. C. 18. 

 Length, 3 to 4 feet. 



Remarks. This fine species is taken in considerable numbers upon our coast. It is 

 generally found upon shoals near the land, where frequently a dozen or more may be 

 seen at a time beneath the water, quietly lying upon the rocky bottom. Large 

 quantities of small bass are caught with nets near Chelsea and Nantasket beaches. 

 Captain Atwood writes me, that at Provincetown a few are caught in the summer with 

 hook and line, by men standing upon the shore ; and that in the months of September 

 and October, when this fish is passing by, on its way to the South, large quantities are 

 sometimes taken with nets, in the following manner. Several men put off from the 

 Race in a boat, with a net from seventy to eighty fathoms long and from three to four 

 fathoms deep ; when the boat is at a short distance from shore, a line attached to the 

 net is thrown ashore, and secured by some of the fishermen there in waiting, and a 

 portion of the net is dragged from the boat. As soon as the fish are seen swimming 

 along, near the bottom, the rest of the net is let out of the boat, which is now rowed 

 ashore, while the other extremity of the net is drawn thither by the rest of the gang. 

 In this way hundreds are taken at a haul ; but as a large number of men is required, 

 and considerable time is necessarily expended, this business is not very profitable, and 

 is not attended to, unless it be at times of leisure from other pursuits. At Buzzard's 

 Bay they are speared by torch-light to some extent, in the month of May. 



In the winter, this species goes up into the rivers and arms of the sea. It is most 

 common in Boston market in autumn and winter. At some seasons of the year it is 

 taken in large numbers in seines, while at others the market is partially supplied by 

 those taken with the hook, and consequently its price varies, from three to twelve cents 

 per pound. It is most readily taken by the hook, when it is baited with the Squid 

 (Loligo illecebrosa). The larger individuals feed voraciously upon this animal, and are 

 hence called " Squid-hounds." The flesh of this species, particularly of the larger ones, 

 is rather coarse, but meets with a ready sale when fresh. In 1836, a small number of 

 barrels (67) was packed and inspected. Bass of considerable size are often taken in 

 Boston harbor. In July, 1837, I saw a specimen weighing 36 pounds, which had been 

 taken from one of the city bridges over Charles River ; and I have been told that an- 

 other, weighing 77 pounds, had been taken from the same bridge. The largest individ- 

 ual I have known to be taken by any of our fishermen weighed 84 pounds. 



New Brunswick, PERLEY. Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, STOKER. 

 Connecticut, AYRES. New York, MITCHILL, CUVIER, DEKAY. 



