38 DR. D. H. STORER’S REPORT. April, 
in our waters, which are of value to this people, and which may be 
tnade more important, than they now are. 
This class of animals is divided by Naturalists into two series—de- 
pendant upon their anatomical structure. These series are subdivid- 
ed into orders—and these again into natural families, which include 
numerous genera and species. 
The family Percoides—Perches—contains but few species which 
are in Common use among us. 
The Perca flavescens—yellow perch, is found in most of the 
ponds of the State, and is a good edible fish. 
Two species of Bass are useful—Labrax mucronatus—white perch 
—is taken in Spring and Autumn in the ponds to which the sea 
has access, and is readily sold in the market. 
Labraz lineatus—striped bass—at. some seasons is brought into 
market in considerable quantities, and sold in the fresh state ; and in 
1836, a small number of barrels (sixty-seven,) were packed and 
inspected. 
The Pomotis vulgaris—pond perch—is seldom seen in the mar- 
ket, but is nevertheless a very good fish. 
Few as are the species among us, of utility, I might point to al- 
most every one of the more than fifty genera which compose this 
family, as furnishing species important to the inhabitants of the coun- 
tries in whose waters they are found. 
In the 2d family—Buccae loricatae—not a single species of the 
numerous genera is employed ; while the Sebastes Norvegicus— 
Norway haddock—and the Cottus Groenlandicus— father lasher,— 
or,as it is more generally called, sculpin—are considered, the one in 
the North Europe, and the other in Greenland, very palatable food. 
The family Sparoides, furnishes the Sargus ovis—sheep’s head— 
every where considered an excellent eating fish,—and the Pagrus 
argyrops — scapaug —a very common and useful species in the 
south-eastern markets of the State. . 
Passing to the family Scomberoides, we find many genera of 
fishes, of infinite importance in an economical and commercial point 
of view. To the seaman, the Pelamys sarda, improperly called 
here Bonito, is a very acceptable meal. Not only is the Xiphias 
gladius—sword-fish, salted and eaten by the Sicilians, but is be- 
