Fishes of Massachusetts. 331 
stronger than the rest, and resembling the fangs of 
serpents. Throat, in front of the esophagus, armed 
above and below with collections of small teeth. 
Eight softish rays in the foremost Dorsal fin. Pec- 
toral, Dorsal and Caudal fins, light or pale brown, 
inclining sometimes to yellowish. Anal and Ven- 
tral fins, pale yellow. Tail,even. Lower jaw lon- 
ger than the upper. Lateral line arched upwards, 
and after its descent runs quite to the extremity of 
the caudal fin. Tongue yellow, with minute black 
dots around the fore part; concave, with a soft and 
flexible margin; has a froenum. The swimming 
bladder is convertible to good glue. I have eaten 
as fine blancmange from it, as from the isinglass of 
the sturgeon. He is a fish of a goodly appearance, 
and is wholesome and well tasted, though rather 
soft. Is brought to market in great numbers dur- 
ing the summer months. He is taken by the line 
and the seine. He is called Weak fish, as some say, 
because he does not pull very hard after he is 
hooked ; or, as others allege, because laboring men, 
who are fed upon him, are weak, by reason of the 
deficient nourishment in that kind of food. 
Certain peculiar noises under water, of a low, 
rumbling or drumming kind, are ascribed by the 
fishermen to the Squeteague. Whether the sounds 
come from these fishes or not, it is certain that dur- 
ing their season, they may be heard coming from the 
bottom of the water; and in places frequented by 
weak fish, and not in other places; and when the 
weak fish depart, the sounds are no more heard. 
Rays: B.7; P.16; V. 5; D. 8-28; A 13; C.17.” 
