60 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



P. triacanthus. Peck. The Three-Spined Peprilus. 



Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, v. ii. p. 48, et fig- 

 Mitchell, Trans. Lit. ct Philosoph. Soc. N. York, p. 365, et fig. 

 Ciiv. et Valenc. IJist. Nat, des Poiss, 



In 1794, Peck read a description of this fish, which he ac- 

 companied with a very fair figure, to the '• American Academy," 

 under the name of " Stromateus triacanthus J^ This paper was 

 published in the year 1804. In 1814, Dr. Mitchell read his 

 paper upon the " Fishes of New York," to the " Literary and 

 JPhilosophical Society" of that state, and the next year this 

 paper was published in that society's Transactions : in his 

 paper, he describes the species under consideration, with the 

 specific name of " cryptosus.^^ Mitchell's name is retained by 

 Cuvier in the Notes to his ^' Regno Animal." Dr. Mitchell 

 would never thus have neglected Peck had he been aware of 

 the existence of his paper. Our duty is clear ; and we cheer- 

 fully prefix the name given it by its first describer : his des- 

 cription is very accurate, and his name is equally appropriate. 



This species is not uncommon in our waters : it is generally 

 taken in nets, and is considerably used as bait for the " striped 

 basse" by our fishermen : being a very oily fish, it is found ser- 

 viceable as manure, for which purpose it is used upon some 

 portions of Cape Cod. I have known a single specimen to be 

 taken from one of the wharves in this city. 



From a specimen before me nine and a half inches long, and 

 three inches deep across from anus, I make the following des- 

 cription. Body ovate, very much compressed ; being more so 

 towards tail. Of a lead color upon back ; lighter on sides ; sil- 

 very upon abdomen. Length of head two inches, gradually 

 arched from snout above : arch of back continued to spine at 

 origin of dorsal fin. Eyes circular, one half inch in diameter ; 

 pupils black ; irides silvery. Nostrils small, three lines in front 

 of eyes ; anterior, circular ; posterior, a vertical fissure. Mouth 

 moderate in size ; jaws equal in length, at their edges present- 

 ing a large number of very minute, equal, compact serrations 



