446 Storer on the 
article of food. In 1832, 300 bbls. were inspected ; 
in 1833, 480 ; 1834, 1008 ; 1835, 1443; 1836, 1488. 
This fish attains the length of fourteen inches. My 
description is drawn up from a specimen eleven in- 
ches in length. Its width, at the commencement of 
the dorsal fin, three inches. All the upper part of 
the body of a greenish brown color; sides lighter, 
mottled with indistinct bluish ocellations ; abdomen ' 
whitish, serrated ; whole surface of the fish iridescent. 
A large black blotch just back of the upper poste- 
rior portion of the operculum. Length of the head 
three and a half inches. Gill-cover very large, all its 
portions more or less golden. Operculum marked 
with quite a number of deeply marked striae, which 
commence just beneath a large green blotch, situ- 
ated some distance back of the eye on a line with it, 
and pass obliquely backward and downward to its 
lower edge; sub-operculum and inter-operculum 
smooth ; preoperculum presents an arborescent ap- 
pearance of vessels upon its surface. yes moderate 
in size; pupils black; irides golden. Gape of the 
mouth very large; lower jaw shorter than the up- 
per; the middle of the upper jaw presenting a deep 
emargination. Back slightly arched. 
The Dorsal fin arises upon the anterior half of the 
body; it is nearly as long again as high; at its 
base is a membranous prolongation, by which it is 
partially covered when at rest. 
The length of the Pectorals to their height is as 
1to 4; the upper four rays much longer than the 
remainder. Outside of the fin is an axillary plate 
more than two thirds the length of the fish; a broad 
