APPENDIX. 131 



species, such as the tmckerel (Scomber vernalis), highly useful in an 

 economical view, but of little interest to the angler, except in the 



Genus Temnodon. — The 7'. sal/ator, or blue fish of the north- 

 ern and t^kipjack of the southern States ; affords much sport to the an- 

 gler, and is a very savory tish. It is known under the various popular 

 names of hor.-e maikerel, green fish, snapping mackerel, &c. 



Genus Rhombus presents the hanesl fish {R. triacanlhus) , which is 

 one of our most delicate and esteemed tishes, but does not take the 

 hook. 



Family LabriDjE. — Jaws with a double row of teeth ; opercle and 

 preopercle ; without spines or denticulations, and with few or no 

 scales on them. 



Genus Tautoga (T. Americana). — The well known tautog, or black 

 fish, a marine species industriously sought for by the angler and 

 epicure. 



SECTION II. 



SOFT RAYED. 



All the fin rays soft and cartilaginous, with the exception sometimes of 

 the first in the dorsal and the first in the pectoral fins. These rays are 

 articulited, and more or less branched. 



Fatfii'y S1LURID.E. — Skin naked and covered with a mucous secre- 

 tion ; head depressed: a second adipose dorsal: intermaxillaries sus- 

 pended under the ethmoid bone, and form the edge of the upper jaw ; 

 first ray of dorsal and pectoral spinous. 



Obs. This family includes at present twenty-five or thirty American 

 species, known under the various popular names of cat fish, bull heads, 

 bull pouts, &.C. They are mostly Huviatile and lacustrine, affording 

 much sport, and sometimes reaching the weight of one hundred 

 pounds. 



Faynily Cyfri^wje. — Mouth slightly cleft ; weak jaws most frequently 

 without teeth ; pharyngeals strongly dentated ; one dorsal fin ; branchial 

 rays few. 



Obs. This family embraces between eighty and ninety American 

 fresh water species, known under the popular names of carp, chub, 

 suckers, shiners, dace, minnows, &lc. The common carp of Europe 

 and the gold fish of China have been successfully introduced into our 

 waters. 



Family Esocidje. — One dorsal fin usually opposite to the anal ; edge 

 of the upper jaw either formed solely by the intermaxillaries, or, if the 

 labials enter at all into its composition, they are destitute of teeth ; 

 branchial rays vary from three to eighteen ; mouth large, and with sharp 

 teeth. 



Genus Esox. — Our waters have six species of pike, of which the 

 most famous is the muskellonge, or great pike of the lakes, which has 

 been known to exceed four feet in length. The pickerel (E. reticulatus) 

 is common in all our ponds and streams. 



