44 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Barnstable Co., 76,036— valued at $490,638; Essex Co., 

 69,599 = 1518,663; >S'«#oZA; Co., 43,266 = $320,165 ; Ply- 

 mouth Co., 25,258 = 1179,748; Norfolk Co., 18,450 = $120,- 

 628; Middlesex Co., 1000 = ^6000; Bristol Co., 450 = 

 $3300. 



My description of the species is from a specimen seventeen 

 inches in length. Upper part of body of a dark green color, 

 marked throughout its whole extent, from occiput to tail, with 

 beautiful transverse, undulating bands of a deeper hue, com- 

 mencing on side of dorsal ridge and extending below the lat- 

 eral line. Sides white, with cupreous reflections. Abdomen 

 white. The very narrow lateral line commences directly back 

 of humeral bone, on a line above the origin of the pectoral fin, 

 and pursues a gently undulatory course to the base of the tail : 

 this line is very distinct, being slightly prominent. Beneath 

 the lateral line on the side, is a fuliginous line, much wider 

 than the lateral line, which arises at the pectoral fin, and trav- 

 erses the length of the fish ; the space between these two lines, 

 of a duller color than the side beneath. 



Length of entire fish to length of head, as 17 to 3 J. Top 

 of head, of a dark, almost black color, produced by longitudi- 

 nal, broad, broken bands, passing backwards from the snout, 

 and a large black blotch extending backwards towards the gill- 

 covers, from the occiput. Eyes large, their diameter equal to 

 three fourths the distance between eyes : pupils black ; irides 

 silvery. Eyes protected by a nictitating membrane. The 

 portion of head directly back of eyes, cupreous. Gill-covers 

 and maxillary bones, silvery. Intermaxillary bones dark fu- 

 liginous — angle of jaws dusky. Inferior margin of preopercu- 

 lum, marked by a row of minute mucous pores. Gape of 

 mouth, moderate. Jaios and palatine bones armed with a sin- 

 gle row of very minute teeth. The whole interior of lower 

 jaw, and anterior portion of upper jaw, fuliginous. Tongue, 

 a dull silvery color. 



The first Dorsal fin, composed of strong rays, of which, the 

 second and third are the longest, arises on a line opposite the 

 posterior half of the pectoral fins : the length of this fin is 



