180 FISHES OP MASSACHUSETTS. 



The Ventrals are placed far back, width at their base, equal 

 to two thirds of their height. 



The length of the Anal fin is equal to half of its height ; the 

 last rays equal in height to one third the height of the longest 

 rays. 



The Caudal fin is forked ; its upper lobe nearly double the 

 length of the lower ; the membranous structure of this fin 

 renders it extremely difficult to count the number of its rays 

 with accuracy. 



The specimen I have described is evidently a young fish. 

 My friend, Thomas A. Greene, Esq. of New Bedford, writes me 

 from that place under date of May 20th, 1838 : " On visiting 

 the market a few mornings since, I saw two huge sturgeons 

 more than six feet long ; they were taken in a seine the day 

 before." 



I learn from the fishermen that sturgeons are sometimes 

 taken in our Bay, eight or ten feet in length, weighing as 

 much as 300 pounds, and that their flesh is eaten by them, 

 and considered very palatable. Mitchell says, it " grows sel- 

 dom to a greater length than five feet ;" while Le Sueur 

 observes that the largest specimen he had seen, was between 

 three and four feet long. 



