Fishes of Massachusetts. 379 
My description is drawn up from a specimen three 
feet in length, weighing fifteen pounds. Entire 
body covered with a slimy secretion. Color, a pur- 
plish brown, with transverse nearly black bars, pass- 
ing from the abdomen high up on the dorsal fin; 
beneath, lighter. Head large, flattened on the top, 
blunt at the snout. Length of the head to the entire 
length of the body, as 10 to 36; depth of the head, 
nearly equal to its length. Eyes moderate in size; 
irides yellow ; distance between the eyes equal to 
one fifth the length of the head. Jaws equal, armed 
with long, strong, pointed teeth ; in the back part of 
the lower jaw, these teeth are very large and blunted 
tubercles ; on each side of the roof of the mouth, 
teeth are large and prominent; in the middle of the 
roof a double ridge of tubercles similar to, but larger 
than those on the jaws, extending some distance 
back, looking like single teeth divided in their cen- 
tre. Tongue large, fleshy, fuliginous. Lips loose, 
fleshy. 
. The Dorsal fin, which is about the same height 
throughout its whole extent, arises on a line with 
the base of the pectorals, and extends near to the 
tail, appearing as if almost united to it, by the pro- 
longation of the membrane of the fin. 
The length of the Pectorals to their height as 3 
to 5; rays very large; when expanded, these fins 
are rounded in their outline. 
The Anal fin arises immediately back of the anus, 
which is very large, and terminates on a plane with 
the dorsal ; in height, this fin is about one third that 
of the dorsal. 
