CHAPTER XI. 



OF THE WEAK-FISH, WHEAT-FISH, OR SQUETEAGUE. 



THIS is another native fish, as far as known, and is found 

 chiefly in the vicinity of New-York and Massachusetts. It 

 takes the various names, of weak-fish, wheat-fish, and sque- 

 teauge from different ascribed causes ; the first from the 

 weakness of its mouth. The 'second name has its origin 

 from the fact of its having made its appearance always at 

 harvest time, which is not now the fact, as they begin to run 

 during the month of May, and are taken in small quantities in 

 the mouth of April. The latter bold and elegant name is 

 oiven by the native inhabitants of the island of New-York, 

 who once were free to roam where the more refined now 

 find a home. 



There are two species, as described by Mitchill, as fol- 

 .ows: 



"The Weak-Fish (Labrus Squeteague) with even 

 tail, speckled back and sides, one or more sharp, long front 

 teeth in the upper jaw, and yellowish ventral and anal fins. 

 One of the most numerous and useful of New-York fishes, 

 particularly during the season when the cold is not consider- 



