262 LABROIDES. 



the fish is much valued, though few seem to be ta- 

 ken to the north of Holmes' Hole. The teeth are 

 tolerably strong, — the pharyngeal patches resem- 

 bling grinders ; the lips are thick and doubled ; 

 operculum without spines or scales ; mouth wide, 

 accompanied with fine labial teeth; two dorsal fins, 

 in the first of which are eight rays ; sixteen in the 

 pectoral and seventeen in the caudal fin. The 

 lateral line is continued quite into the inter-spi- 

 nous web ; nostrils double, and the lowest jaw the 

 longest. Another name for the squeteague, is 

 " checout," of aboriginal origin. 



We know of nothing particularly interesting in 

 the character of this fish. It appears by the ob- 

 servations of fishermen, that it never visits rivers, 

 but resembles in habits the tautog, being partial 

 to similar grounds. Vast quantities are carried to 

 the city of New York, where it is considered val- 

 uable, as a common small fish, though, like the 

 blue-perch or bergall, it is presented of all inter- 

 mediate sizes, from three inches to twelve. It 

 is taken both by lining and seining, and because 

 it makes such feeble exertion and resistance, in be- 

 ing drawn by a hook, it has received the appella- 

 tion of weak-fish. 



Spotted-Sqtjetee, — Labrus Sque. Macu- 

 latus. This is nearly the same ; if there are oth- 



