Fishes of Massachusetts. 499 
Sciences," observes, “that it is sometimes brought | 
to market,” alluding to the Boston market, “ but is 
not much valued as an article of food." He must 
have visited our market at a season of the year, when 
the species is seldom taken, and collected his infor- 
mation from an inexperienced fishmonger. It is 
taken along our whole coast, as well as in the rivers 
and ponds of the State. At some seasons, spring 
and winter, for instance, great numbers are brought 
to market from the mouths of the neighboring rivers, 
upon the muddy bottoms of which they live, and 
meet with a ready sale; so great even, is sometimes 
a demand in winter, that it cannot be answered. 
: At this season it is speared ; holes having been cut 
through | the ice for the purpose. The markets are 
usually supplied in spring from the rivers, where 
they are now taken in nets. At Medford, nets are 
stretched across the river, having in their middlea _ 
large bag capable of containing from fifteen to twenty — 
bushels ; as the eels are going up or down the river, 
they are thus caught, and are kept alive for the sup- 
ply of the market in large ditches, excavated near the 
river, which are supplied by the tide with water. 
About 3000 pounds are yearly taken at Watertown. 
hose taken in summer when able to procure the g 
“ Brit,’ and other fishes upon which they feed, are 
much larger and richer, weighing from one to nine 
pounds. ý ; 
