2 



5*> 



HISTORY 



OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



inch from each other, passing backward in nearly 



When unattached 



tlir mouth of this fish is a longitudinal fissure ; when attached it is circular, the lip 

 forming a ring, within which are situated numerous hard, hornj teeth of a yellow color. 

 The anterior and the inner row of the lateral teeth are the larger ; the posterior teeth 



\ Mucous pores are seen upon the upper portion of the 



more numerous and smalle 



id 



The first dorsal fin arises posterior to the middle of the body ; its height is less than 



one sixth its length. 



The second dorsal fin is situated about an inch posterior to the first dorsal; its greatr 

 est height is equal to about one sixth its length. This fin is continued to, and united 

 with, the caudal fin. 



The anal fin is a mere fringe. 



The caudal fin seems, like the extremity of the solid portion of the body, very much 

 compressed, or is an expansion of the dorsal and anal fins. 

 Length, two to three feet. 



This species is occasionally taken in Massachusetts Bay attached to" pieces 



ReiiKirk 



of drift-wood and the bottoms of boats and 

 cends the mouths of 



o 



In its spawnin 



In the Merrimac Eiver, at Lowell, it is taken in larg 



quan- 



iit ies. I am indebted to the late Elisha Bartlett, M. D, for the following interesting facts 

 He wrote me, that « they ascend the rivers a little earlier than the shad, and move mostly 

 in the night. It is not known by the fishermen when they return, as they are never seen. 

 There is a notion that they all die. They are often seen in the Summer in pairs at work 

 together, constructing a little mound of stones. They build this about three feet in di- 

 ameter at the base, and about two feet high, of stones from the size of an ounce bullet to 



that of the fish 



They often aid each other in carrying the same 



This is pretty 



evidently a labor of love, as they copulate once in five minutes, or so, during the whole 



time 



The young go down the river when the water begins to freeze 



six to eiifht niches 



They 



from 



o 



6 



Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Linsley 



New York, Mitchill, Deka 



» 



