1838. HOUSE—No. 72. 41 
this last port, they are sent over the entire western country. The 
inferior quality are shipped to the West India islands. 
I have not been able to learn with accuracy the number of vessels 
engaged exclusively in this fishery ; in many towns, the same vessels 
are used at different seasons of the year for the Cod as well as the 
Mackerel fishery. I have ascertained however, that there were 202 
vessels employed in this fishery in 1836, in the county of Barnsta- 
ble, and that of this number, 98 belonged to Provincetown, which 
were valued at $147,000. 
In the family Gobioides, the Anarrhicas lupus—Sea-wolf, is not 
only eaten by the inhabitants of several countries of the north of 
Europe, and considered by them excellent food, but is even here 
esteemed by many, and thought inferior to but very few of our 
fishes. 
In the family Labroides, the Labrus Americanus— Tautog, is 
taken in considerable quantities upon some portions of the coast, and 
in its fresh state finds aready sale in the larger markets. I am in- 
formed that in 1836, three smacks were constantly employed in the 
harbor of South Wellfleet, in the Tautog fishery, from April to No- 
vember, and that it was a profitable occupation to those engaged in it. 
At New Bedford, 300 pounds of fresh tautog have been sold by a 
single market boat ina day. This fish is also pickled at the last 
place, and may be kept in a weak brine for a long time—in this 
state, they are considered by epicures, a great delicacy. The Cren- 
dabrus burgall too—Marine perch—or, as itis most commonly 
called, ‘* Cunner,”’ is for several months in the year, taken along our 
whole sea-board,—not only by the fishermen’s nets in myriads, but 
by the needy and destitute, from our wharves and bridges, and is 
one of the most common, as well as excellent species found in our 
waters. 
The family Cyprinide includes many of our fresh water fishes, 
which, although not extensively used, are very good food. 
Thus several species of the genus Catastomus— Suckers—are 
frequently found in our market in considerable numbers : so also of 
the genera Cyprinus and Leuciscus, the species of which being 
equally palatable, and somewhat similar in their appearance to the 
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