15 



no other fish that seems to be confined within such narrow limits. It is prob- 

 able that they are along our outer fishing grounds and are not seen by the 

 fishermen, as they seldom bite at the hook. I have seen but one specimen ta- 

 ken with a hook, and have heard of only three others, during the past fifty years, 

 having been taken in that way. They belong to the same great group of fishes 

 which includes the Rays and Skates, and, like most of the group, the Tor- 

 pedoes swim near the bottom and consequently would not be seen. When I 

 was a boy, fifty years since, and for many years after, Torpedoes were very 

 common along our shores ; and during Autumn I visited the beach daily on 

 Long Point (Provincetown) for the purpose of obtaining their livers, which 

 yielded a large quantity of excellent oil, that was used for burning and which 

 gave a better light than any other that I have seen, refined sperm oil not ex- 

 cepted. I have heard it said that the oil was an excellent remedy for cases 

 of cramp by bathing the part affected. I have never had any experience in 

 its use for that purpose, and, consequently, can say nothing of its medicinal 

 properties. This fish varies from twenty to two hundred pounds in weight 

 as they come from the water, the smallest yielding about one pint of oil, and 

 the largest some three gallons. The shape of the liver is unlike that in any 

 other fish. It is formed in two parts, equal in size and shape, located on 

 each side. Torpedoes possess strong electric powers. I have received very 

 severe shocks from them many times, and even after they had been out of wa- 

 ter for some six hours, on touching them with the finger, I have been so 

 shocked as to be thrown down upon the ground, or in the water. I have seen 

 them passing along near the shore during the day and have thrown a harpoon 

 into them and hauled them on shore. On taking hold of the harpoon, some 

 six feet from the fish, my hand would soon become numb, and the fingers 

 would incline to straighten so much as to make it difficult to grasp the pole 

 of the harpoon. During the past twenty years these fishes have almost dis- 

 appeared ; some three or four specimens only having been found, each Au- 

 tumn, for several years past ; and I have found it difficult to procure more 

 than one or two specimens, each year, when I needed them. Some forty or 

 fifty years since they might have been obtained by hundreds. 



Mr. Putnam followed Capt. Atwood and gave a brief account of the 

 anatomy of the Torpedo, pointing out the position and structure of the elec- 

 tric battery. 



Donations to the Museum and Library were announced. 



Nathan Mortimer Hawkes, of Lynn, and Nathaniel B. Harris, of Salem, 

 were elected Resident Members. 



MONDAY, APRIL 16, 1866. Regular Meeting. 

 Vice President GOODBLL in the Chair. 



Letters were read from Prof. A. B. Verrill, Yale College; Rev. A. B. 

 Kendig, Marshalltown, Iowa; E. Hall, Athens, 111.; Dr. E. W. Hubbard, 

 Tottenville, Staten Island; Rev. E, C. Bolles, Portland, Me.; G. K. Gilbert, 



