FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS, 201 



Another species of " Raia" is common in our waters. It is 

 known among fishermen, as the Thornback. Several years 

 since, I had an opportunity of examining one, which, at the 

 time, I supposed to be the " radiata" of Don. This specimen 

 was two feet in length, and twenty inches across the pectorals ; 

 and in its stomach, I found the head of a menhaden, measuring 

 three inches in length. The fisherman who brought it to me, 

 assured me he had caught specimens very much larger than 

 this. This species is undoubtedly the " clavata," thornback, 

 or " radiata" Starry ray. 



That a species of " Torpedo" is found upon the coast of 

 Cape Cod, is, I think, satisfactorily settled by the following 

 testimony. 



In Whitman's description of Wellfleet, in the third vol- 

 ume of the " Massachusetts Historical Collections," he says, 

 " cramp fish have been caught on our shores." In a descrip- 

 tion of Truro, in the same volume, we read, " the cramp fish 

 has sometimes been seen on the beach." " This fish, which 

 resembles a sting ray in size and form, possesses the property 

 of the torpedo, being capable of giving a distinct electrical 

 shock." Dr. Davis writes me from South Wellfleet, under 

 date of Oct. 24, 1837 : " Cramp fish are occasionally seen upon 

 our shores." Mr. E. Freeman, fishmonger in Q,uincy market, 

 tells me that forty years ago, two or three specimens of this 

 fish were frequently found dead upon the beaches at Wellfleet 

 in a single day, also at Griffin's Island, near Wellfleet. They 

 were taken for their livers, which are thought beneficial in 

 cases of cramp. He has not, however, heard of any one having 

 been taken for several years past. Mr. Covell also informs me 

 that he has repeatedly seen them, and been electrified by them 

 at Wellfleet ; but has not met with one for ten or twelve years. 

 Mr. Newcomb, sen., relates an anecdote, which proves the elec- 

 trical power of this fish beyond a doubt. His father, who 

 resided at Wellfleet, had a dog which frequently waded into 

 the shallow water of the coves, and brought out flounders, 

 which he had seized with his mouth. In one of his fishing ex- 

 cursions, he attacked a torpedo, which perfectly convulsed him ; 

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