Fishes of Massachusetts. 381 
A perfect specimen of this loathsome looking fish 
was brought me by my old friend, Capt. Nathaniel 
Blanchard, which he captured September 6th, 1837, 
in Boston Bay. It measured forty-four inches in 
length, and thirty-five in breadth, with the gape of 
the mouth nine inches in extent. As, at that time, 
I did not think of minutely describing each of our 
species, I was satisfied to compare it with several 
descriptions, with which I found a perfect corres- 
pondence. Since then, I have been unable to pro- 
cure another specimen for description, and therefore 
copy Yarrell’s account, which is concise and very 
clear. 
“The number of fin rays is D. 111-12; P. 20; 
V.D; A BOR 
The head is wide, depressed ; the mouth nearly 
as wide as the head ; lower jaw the longer, bearded 
or fringed all round the edge ; both jaws armed with 
numerous teeth of different length, conical, sharp, 
and curving inwards; teeth also on the palatine 
bones and tongue; three elongated, unconnected 
filaments on the upper part of the head; two near 
the upper lip, one at the nape, all three situated in 
a depression on the middle line; eyes large, irides 
brown, pupils black; pectoral fins broad and round- 
ed at the edge, wide at the base ; branchial pouches 
in part supported by the six branchiostegous rays. 
Body narrow compared with the breadth of the 
head, and tapering gradually to the tail ; vent about 
the middle of the body ; the whole fish covered with 
a loose skin. 
Color of the whole upper surface of the body 
e 
