REVIEW OF LOCAL FISHES 



81 



BERGALL 



fan shaped. When swimming slowly, the pectoral fins are often the 

 propelling power, the body gliding forward smoothly and rather swiftly. 

 This is a sort of locomotion rare among fishes and characteristic of the 

 Wrasse family, of which the Bergall is the most northern representative 

 on our coast. 



It would be an excellent food fish except that it does not reach a 

 large enough size. In consequence, where abundant, it is a nuisance to 

 fishermen. It is sometimes called Nibbler. Northward along the New 

 England coast it is known as Gunner. Here it reaches a somewhat 

 greater size and is largely taken in traps and extensively used for food. 

 1 he Bergall is ordinarily less than a foot long and weighs under a pound. 

 In this latitude it is generally much smaller, the large ones being 

 more northern in distribution. Two-pound fish are said to have been 

 taken. 



The Blackfish or Tautog is a close relative of the Bergall from which 

 it may be readily distinguished by its deeper body, the depth to the base 

 of the tail being contained somewhat less rather than somewhat more 

 than three times in the length. Its scales are also decidedly smaller, 

 there being about sixty in a lengthwise series instead of in the neighbor- 

 hood of thirty-five. The Blackfish grows much larger than the Bergall 

 and is one of the most valuable food fishes of the Atlantic coast, being 

 much sought after by local anglers. The largest Blackfish on record 

 was taken near New York in 187(3. It was thirty-six and one half inches 

 long and weighed twenty-two and one half pounds. This size is, of 

 course, very exceptional. Anything over ten pounds is very large for 

 the species. 



