ACADIAN FI-H AND FISHING. 



257 



line of pre-opercle not so rounded as opcrclc ; the 

 pectoral fins com'ng cat very far forward, almost 

 touching the gill rays, dorsal commencing about two 

 lengths of head from tip of nose, sub-quadrangular, 

 free edge concave ; ventral about opposite sixth ray of 

 dorsal ; adipose fm opposite posterior edge of anal ; 

 caudal deeply cleft, and very nearly the length of head 

 in depth. In one instance th(5 tail was square. Inter- 

 maxillaries, maxillaries, palatines, vomer and tongue 

 armed with sharp and recurved teeth, the teeth on the 

 vomer extending half an inch down the roof of mouth, a 

 fleshy line extending from them to the gullet, the upper 

 jaw notched to receive the lower. In two specimens a 

 prolonged hook in lower jaw advancing beyond the 

 teeth. Girard says the male fish has adipose fins oppo- 

 site anterior edge of anal, the female opposite posterior 

 edge. Whilst in the following description, taken from a 

 female fish, I ha\e verified his remarks, I have added, that 

 in the male the adipose fin is very much larger, which is 

 almost the same thing. Colour black above, shading 

 down to sepia brown at the lateral line, the brown being 

 the back ground to numerous black spots, some round, 

 some lunated extending from opercles to tail. The opercles 

 partake of the same general colour with yellow reflections 

 and blue tints, but also marked with spots extending to 

 the pre-opercles, beautifully round and distinct ; sides 

 yellowish, and belly white with pearly tints, the whole 

 covered with bright scales larger about the sides than 

 beneath. The colours vary much by the reflected lights 

 made in turning the fish. The colour of the fins when fresh 

 out of water, — caudal brown, dorsal brow^nish black, and 

 spotted, lower fins dark brown, edges and tips dark, 



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