F'ishes of. Massachusetts. 263 
creased in number, and, generally speaking, have 
been of a much larger size than when they were first 
observed. Now, they visit the coast south of Cape 
Cod, at Nantucket, and New Bedford, and Holmes 
Hole, in large numbers, and are occasionally captured 
weighing fourteen pounds. They are caught from 
shore by throwing a drail—a hook fixed into a piece 
of bone or ivory, and sometimes pewter, something 
in the form of a fish, with brass wire around the line 
next it, to prevent its being bitten off by the strong 
jaws of the fish; they are also caught in a boat un- 
der sail with a good breeze, the line dragging be- 
hind ; and they have been taken with a seine; thus 
in a number of the Nantucket Enquirer, July 8th, 
1837, I find the following: “ a few days since, there 
were caught at one haul, 241 blue fish, 108 scup- 
paugs or poggies, 28 basse and 19 shad, in all 396 
fish, weighing about half a ton." On the 25th Oc- 
tober, 1837, a specimen of this species, weighing 
about three pounds, was taken at Green Island by 
Mr. Morgan, of that place, and sent to Mr. New- 
_ comb, Jr. of Quincy Market; this is the only speci- 
. men I have known to be taken in Massachusetts Bay. 
Ld 
In its flavor, this fish resembles the mackerel, and is 
highly esteemed by many as an article of food ; but 
it is excessively fat, and cannot always be borne by 
the stomach. In the early part of summer it is very 
lean; towards the latter part of summer and the 
commencement of autumn, it is in a state of perfec- 
tion for the epicure. By the kind attentions of the 
Hon. Hezekiah Barnard, of Nantucket; George B. 
Emerson, Esq., President of the Boston Society of 
