FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 123 



terminating March 20, 1837. His account exhibits the num- 

 ber of fish taken, and the price obtained for the same, for each 

 day during that period. From this minute statement I am 

 able to ascertain that the largest quantity taken any one day, 

 was 7124 pounds, December 13th, which sold for five shillings 

 per hundred =$59.39. 



The smallest quantity taken any one day, was 337 pounds, 

 January 16th, which sold for 12 shillings =$6. 6 7. 



The smallest receipts were March 20th, when 359 pounds 

 taken, sold for 10 shillings 6 pence = $5.92. 



The whole number of pounds taken during the period men- 

 tioned, was 194,125. 



The entire receipts for the same, were $3026.14. 



Besides the value of tbs fishes themselves, in a fresh and 

 dried state, large quantities of oil are extracted from their liver 's, 

 which is sold for about $15 per barrel. 



The color of the cod of our market is exceedingly variable. 

 In the same stall may frequently be seen specimens with 

 equally obvious spots over their entire surface j or they may 

 be much more perceptible on the sides ; or they may be scarcely 

 observed at all and the entire fish appear of an uniform gray j 

 or again of a beautiful bright red ; and I have seen a single 

 specimen which was of a lemon yellow. 



The following description is drawn up from a specimen 

 about 23 inches in length. Back ash colored ; sides lighter ; 

 both back and sides covered with yellowish spots larger and more 

 distinct upon the sides. Beneath, dusky white. Length of 

 the head compared to the length of the body, with the excep- 

 tion of the tail, rather more than one third ; depth over the 

 base of the pectorals rather more than one fifth the length of 

 the body, without the tail ; depth over the anus equal to one 

 fifth the length of the body. Top of the head darker colored 

 than the gill-covers. The pupils of the eye black, irides a 

 beautiful silvery. Diameter of the eye equal to one sixth the 

 length of the head ; the distance between the eyes nearly equal 

 to one third the length of the head ; the distance of the ex- 

 tremity of the snout, from a line on a plane with the anterior 

 angle of the eye, equal to one third the length of the head. 



