FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 107 



tance between the eyes, equal to one fifth the length of the 

 head. Jaios equal in length ; gape of the mouth large ; teeth 

 sharp, recurved. ; teeth on the tongue larger than those in the 

 jaws ; teeth also on the palatines and vomer. Scales very 

 small ,• those on the lateral line, which pursues a straight 

 ■course, larger than those on the rest of the body. 



The Dorsal fin is situated upon the anterior half of the 

 body ; it is yellow, with irregular black transverse bands ; 

 longer than high ; the adipose fin is quite small near the taiL 

 The Pectorals arise in front of the posterior angle of the 

 operculum ; its length equal to one quarter of its height. The 

 first ray white ; the second ray dark colored ; the remainder of 

 the fin red. 



The Ventrals commence opposite the middle of the dorsal 

 fin ; when unexpanded, their extremities, together, form a 

 sharp point. As in the pectorals, the outer ray is white j the 

 second dark ; the remainder red. 



The Anal fin arises in front of the adipose fin, and is higher 

 than long. 



The Caudal fin is of a dirty reddish brown, mottled with 

 black spots ; slightly bifurcated. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 11 ; P. 13 ; V. 8 ; A. 11 ; 

 C. 19. 



November 5th, 1838. I have just received three beautiful 

 specimens of Trout, from Dr. Forsyth, of Sandwich, which 

 are commonly called " Salmon Trout, ''^ and, as such, are sought 

 for with great avidity ; they are taken there in considerable 

 quantities ; not less than 1000 pounds yearly. It is quite com- 

 mon to find them in the wells oi the vicinity of Sandwich, 

 living for years, and attaining a large size. These Sandwich 

 fish are really delicious, as my good friend has given me an 

 opportunity of testing at my table ; still, upon a careful ex- 

 amination, they answer most perfectly to Mitchell's descrip- 

 tion of the ^^fontinalis," and do not at all correspond with the 

 descriptions of the " salmo trutta," salmon trout. The largest 

 of my three specimens is fifteen inches in length, nearly as 

 large again as this species is usually met with in our market 



