coricus. 259 



ing on the age, or influence which the water, at 

 particular localities, has on the skin, and that only 

 one species exists in this or that portion of the 

 country. 



GEN* CORICUS, — CHOGSET. 



Blue Perch, Gunner, Nipper, Bergall, 

 Blue-Fish, and Chogset, — Labrus Coricus, 

 vel. Chogset. Since the commencement of this 

 little volume, no one species has given us more 

 trouble and perplexity in the classification than 

 this. It is admitted that it is wholly unknown in 

 Europe, at least so far as respects the color. 



Chogset is an Indian name, Bergall is the New 

 York, Perch the Boston, and dinner, its univer- 

 sal cognomen the further we go to the east. 

 Sometimes it is ten inches in length, but usually 

 varies from three inches to eight. 



On this coast, it may always be recognised by 

 its bluish color, approaching a dark green, varying 

 however, by the manner in which the scales re- 

 ceive the rays of light. When drawn from deep 

 water, the green evidently predominates. About 

 the wharves, they are not as large as on the cod 

 ground, weighing from three ounces, to about one 

 pound. The fish is probably better developed 

 here than at the south of the Cape, the water be- 

 ing both colder and salter, qualities which are con- 

 ducive to its growth. 



