Fishes of Massachusetts. 455 
haddock are taken to 1 cwt. of cod fish in Massachu- 
setts Bay ; and in the winter, about 12 cwt. of cod, 
to 1 cwt. haddock ; but as the haddock fishery is of 
longer duration, the quantities through the year, will 
average about the proportion of 3 haddocks to 1 cod. 
Large numbers are sold in the market; and during 
the entire summer it is generally eaten by the poorer 
classes, who are often able to obtain a fine fish 
weighing several pounds for one or two cents. When 
taken in larger quantities than they can be disposed 
of in the market, they are frequently strewed over 
the earth for manure. 
The specimen before me is twenty four inches in 
length. Length of the head compared to the whole 
length of the body, exclusive of the caudal rays, as 
6 to 20; depth of the body across from the anus, 
less than the length of the head. Color, above 
the lateral line, a dark grey, beneath this line, a 
beautiful silvery grey, with a large, and in many 
specimens nearly a circular patch, on each side, on a 
line with the middle of the pectorals, its upper por- 
tion generally extending above the lateral line, its 
larger portion usually beneath it. Back of the head 
very convex; gili-covers much lighter colored than 
the top of the head and snout; upper jaw projects 
beyond the lower; teeth in the upper jaw longer 
than in the lower, and nearly vertical; a very mi- 
nute barbule at the chin; posterior nostril much 
larger than the anterior. Longest diameter of the 
the eye, more than one sixth the length of the head, 
pupils black, irides bluish ; the distance between the 
eyes equal to nearly one third the length of the 
