13 



figure of the single specimen obtained in Massachusetts 

 Bay by Dr. Storer, but during the last season it was 

 found in numbers on the coast of Maine by the United 

 States Fish Commission under Prof. Baird, and on re- 

 cently looking over the collection of fishes in the Museum 

 of the Academy, I found several specimens, including a 

 very young one, taken in our harbor, which have been pre- 

 sented to the Academy at various times during the past 

 six years by Mr. Walker, the well known fisherman of this 

 city, who has added so many interesting specimens to our 

 collections. 



Mr. ALFRED PEABODY, one of the pioneers in the Cali- 

 fornia enterprise, read a very interesting paper on the 

 early days and rapid growth of California. After a brief 

 review of the acquisition of the territory and the discovery 

 of the gold fields, he proceeded to the narration of his 

 personal experience. Immediately after the announcement 

 of the discovery, and the knowledge that a large immi- 

 gration from the neighborhood had set in, Mr. Peabody 

 applied to John Bertram, Esq., of Salem, who, with his 

 usual energy, engaged in the enterprise. With five others 

 Capt. Bertram fitted out the barque "Eliza," which sailed 

 from Salem for San Francisco, Dec. 23, 1848, under com- 

 mand of Capt. A. Staniford Perkins, with a cargo of provi- 

 sions, clothing, mining tools, lumber, etc., and a scow for 

 dredging. She took as passengers, Messrs. Alfred Pea- 

 body, who was part owner and supercargo, John Beadle, 

 Jr., Dennis Rideout, Geo. R. Buffum, Geo. W. Kenny, 

 and Jona. Nichols, of Salem, and J. H. Parker, of Boston. 



The "Eliza" was the first vessel from Massachusetts 

 fitted expressly for California with such a cargo, although 

 Capt. Eagleston had actually cleared the brig "Mary & 

 Ellen" for the Sandwich Islands via California, and sailed 

 Oct. 28, changing his first destination on account of the 



