THE FISHES OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 45 



fin stretches to the tail. It is more rare than the cod, and its flesh is 

 much finer. 



13. The Haddock is found on our shores at certain seasons. It is 

 much smaller than the full grown cod. When fresh it is good. If slightly 

 salted and smoked, it is much better than if cured as codfish. 



14. The Frost Fish, or Tom Cod. This small fish may be caught in 

 many parts of the island. Its flesh is white and soft, and is but little 

 prized. It attains its name from the time of the year in which it makes 

 its appearance in creeks — generally after the frost has set in in the month 

 of December. The cod, the hake, the torsk, the haddock, and the frost 

 fish belong to one family, the cod family, called the Gadidae. 



15. The Bass, so easily known by its stripes, once abounded in all our 

 harbours. It, like other valuable fish, has become scarce. It is still 

 occasionally found in the harbours, especially on the north side, where it 

 may be caught with -nets or taken by the hook. 



16. The Perch. The perch :'s remarkable for its sharp and strong fins. 

 Two species are to be found, the yellow perch and the blue perch. The 

 yellow perch, sometimes called the cunner or sea-perch, is much esteemed 

 as food — the other is little prized. The bass and the perch belong to one 

 family, the Percidae. 



17. The Flounder is found in all the creeks of the island. It is a 

 small flat fish, often seen moving slowly along a sandy or muddy shore 

 in search of food. It may be eaten when fresh fish are scarce, but it is 

 very bony and not very palatable. 



18. The Halibut is a very large flat fish, weighing sometimes from 

 200 to 300 lbs. It is not very frequently caught on the Island coasts. 

 When fresh and in good condition, its flesh is prized. Portions of it are 

 sometimes dried and smoked, after being slightly salted. 



The flounder and the halibut belong to one family, called the* Pleuro- 

 nectidce. 



19. There are other fishes of less note, such as the Sculpin, 

 with a large depressed head, armed with spines, and a small tapering 

 body, found about the wharves and rocks ; the Mummachog, a small 

 fish which swims about ponds and rivulets and the mouth of creeks, and 

 sometimes used as bait ; and the very small Pin-fish, armed with a spine 

 on the back and on the sides. 



20. Eels of the finest quality abound on the muddy bottoms of 

 the harbours, rivers, and mill-dams. They are of two species, the 

 common eel and the sea eel. They may be caught by a trap made of 

 rods, but are generally speared, either through the ice, or on the flats by 

 torchlight. The sea eels are the best. Both species are very voracious. 



