76 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



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FAMILY XIV. 

 LABROIDES. 



LABRUS. Lin. 



Generic characters. Body elongated, covered with large 

 thin scales : a single dorsal Jin, extending nearly the whole 

 length of the back ; part of the rays spinous, the others flexible ; 

 behind the point of each spinous ray a short membranous fila- 

 ment : lips large and fleshy ; teeth conspicuous, conical, sharp ; 

 cheek and operculum covered ivith scales ; preoperculum and 

 operculum ivithout serrations or spines. 



L. Americanus. Bloch. The Tautog. Black Fish. 

 Trans. Lit. et Philosoph. Soc. N. Y. p. 399, et fig. 



Although a very few years only have passed since this spe- 

 cies was brought into Massachusetts Bay, it is now taken along 

 a large portion of the coast. At Plymouth and Nahant, at 

 some seasons, it is found in no inconsiderable numbers, and is 

 frequently caught from the bridges leading from Boston. 

 From one of these bridges, a specimen was taken a few years 

 since, weighing eleven pounds and three quarters. The Bos- 

 ton market is for the most part supplied, however, by Well- 

 fleet. I am informed that in 1836 three smacks were con- 

 stantly employed in the harbor of South Wellfleet, in the 

 tautog fishery, from April to November, and that it was a 

 profitable occupation to those engaged in it. Large numbers 

 are carried from this latter place to New York. At New Bed- 

 ford, 300 pounds of fresh tautog have been sold by a single 

 market-boat in a day. This fish is also pickled at the last 

 place, and may be kept in a weak brine for a long time. In 

 this state, they are considered by epicures a great delicacy. 

 Mr. Henry Blood, of New Bedford, informs me, that a speci- 

 men of this fish was taken in Rochester harbor, which weighed 

 fourteen pounds and three ounces. The largest individual of 

 which I have any knowledge, weighed sixteen pounds. 



