ri Mr, Peck's account of four remarkihk Fi/hes, 



torily to apply to it either of the Linnean definitions. As 

 truth is the great objedl in inquiries of this kind, if I have 

 fallen into an error, I iliall think myfelf indebted to any ex- 

 perienced natiiraliU; who fliall fet me right. 



In the fummer months, the fifhermen fometimes find a fin- 

 gle iifh of this kind in their wears ; but fince writing the above, 

 a fifherman brought me four, which he took up with his 

 hands from a crowded fchull, that he beUeved occupied three 

 acres in extent. They were taken on the New Hampfhire 



coaft, about a league from the mouth of the Pifcataqua. There 

 is no popular name for it. It is probably a migratory fifh. 



A 



fig. III. is the figure of a fi{h wlilch is taken on the haddock 



grounds, principally in the months of March and April. 



Its body is enfiform, flibcylindric, diminifhing gradually 

 toward the tail ,• flippery, covered with a copious lubricating 

 humour and a very tenacious ikin. The colour approaches 

 umber, efpecially on the back ; on the abdomen pale, and in 

 fome fpecimens whitifli. 



From the middle line upwards, through the whole length, 

 it is marked with darker fpots, arranged in a triple feries, fo as 

 to appear in a manner chequered. 



The head declining, broader than the body, and fmooth ; 

 equal to about {th part of the length of the fifh. The mouth 

 large and nearly horizontal The fnout a little acuminated. 

 The upper jaw longeft. The lips flefhy and thick, the upper 

 one a little folded back ; die lower one loofe, and pendant at 



the fides. There are no cirri. 



The 



