FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 147 



the " English Turbot." It is oftentimes taken in fishing for 

 mackerel, quite near the shore. Although it generally weighs 

 but a few pounds, specimens have been caught the last season 

 weighing twenty pounds. 



A specimen purchased in the market August 6, enables me 

 to furnish the following description : 



Length of the fish, eighteen inches ; depth of the body, 

 across the middle, exclusive of the fins, seven inches. Length 

 of the head, three and a half inches ; depth from the origin of 

 the dorsal fin, three inches. Body elongated, with small 

 scales, perfectly smooth. Left side of a reddish gray color, 

 with large circular, oval or oblong blotches of a darker color, 

 surrounded with a lighter margin, and also numerous white 

 spots, which are more obvious upon the fins. Right side white, 

 without spots. Upper eye slightly back of the under, in a ver- 

 tical line. Eyes moderate in size, oblong ; pupils blue black ; 

 irides silvery ; distance between the eyes, equal to the longest 

 diameter of the eye. Orbits, space in front of the eyes, jaws, 

 spotted with dull bluish spots. Gape of the month large ; jaios 

 equal in length, and armed with a single row of separated, 

 quite large, sharp teeth ; the front ones much the largest. A 

 protuberance at the chin. Nostrils, three lines in front of the 

 eyes. Gill-covers extend back of the eyes, nearly two and a 

 half inches. 



The lateral line makes a high arch over the pectorals, pre- 

 vious to assuming its straight course to the tail ; the top of this 

 arch, is more than one inch above the straight line. 



The Dorsal fin arises over the anterior half of the orbit of 

 the eyes, and extends to the fleshy portion of the tail j of a 

 lighter color than the body of the fish ; extremities of the rays 

 free, and tipped \vith white ; the first rays are the shortest ; 

 those at the middle and towards the posterior, longest ; those 

 at the extremity, of moderate height. 



The Pectorals are light colored, transversely barred with 

 dark colored bands, having a white blotch, at their inferior 

 base ; their length to their height as 1 to 3. 



