Description of a new Species of Torpedo. * oy 
time of the year. The smallest I ever saw, I should think did 
not exceed twenty pounds weight, and was about as large as the 
head of a barrel; the largest I should think might weigh from 
one hundred and seventy to two hundred pounds; but as I have 
never weighed any of them, I cannot exactly tell their weight. 
The largest circumference is about twelve feet, or four feet diam- 
eter. You ask if I have ever received a shock from them? I can 
truly say that I have received a great many very powerful shocks, 
which have thrown me upon the ground as quick as if I had been 
knocked down with an axe. Although this shock is so powerful 
and severe, I have known individuals when taken from the water 
alive not to exhibit that power if they possessed it. You ask how 
they are captured? The largest number of their own accord run 
ashore upon our sandy beach. I have known two to be taken 
with the hook in our bay by persons fishing for other fish; and 
others, being discovered in the day time near the shore, are har- 
pooned and dragged on shore. 
“You also ask if I have known any one to receive a shock 
without having taken the fish up with the hand? I have received 
many shocks by taking hold of the pole of the harpoon, when I 
was at the distance of eight or ten feet from the fish, but the 
shocks are not so severe. I have also felt its effect when holding 
the rope attached to the harpoon, but in this and in cutting the 
liver from the fish when it is nearly dead, there is generally noth- 
ing more than a numbness felt in the fingers, and they seem to 
incline to straighten, so that I have known it difficult to grasp 
the handle of the knife while cutting the fish.” ‘It does not 
run on shore on the north or town side of our harbor.” “No part 
of the cramp-fish is used except the liver ; this contains very good 
lamp-oil, equal to purified sperm-oil. I have never known it used 
for any other purpose of late; but formerly it was used for cramp, 
by bathing the parts afflicted, and it has been taken inwardly for 
cramp in the stomach, but of its effects when thus given I know 
nothing. The smallest of the fish I have seen, produced about 
one pint of oil, and the largest produced three gallons; the com- 
mon size fish produce from one to two gallons.” 
The entire length of my specimen, which is a female, is four 
feet and two inches, and its greatest breadth is three feet: the 
greatest length of the pectoral fins is two feet, and their greatest 
breadth is fifteen inches. The first dorsal fin, which is three 
