MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 477 



the concurrent accounts, however, which I have received, I am inclined 

 to believe this singular tenant of our seas is the torpedo. My reasons 

 for this conclusion are the following : 



" 1. The electric fish on our coast is known by the name of numb- 

 fish. This you know is the vulgar appellation given the torpedo by 

 many Europeans, from whom the term probably passed to our shores. 



" 2. The description given of the numb-fish by those who have had 

 opportunities of examining it, corresponds remarkably with that given of 

 the torpedo by various writers. 



" 3. On showing the figure of the torpedo to fishermen, they have 

 always recognised a striking resemblance of the numb-fish. Indeed, 

 some have pronounced it the numb-fish at first view. 



" 4. The numb fish is represented as communicating a benumbing 

 shock when touched by the hand, or with a knife. The shock has been 

 known to be so violent as to deprive the arm, for a short time, of all 

 voluntary motion. 



" This fish has never been caught, as far as I can learn, except by the 

 hook when fishing for cod. It is scarce round this island, and seldom 

 taken. On St. George's Bank it is more frequent." 



Captains Rose and Dodge, of the town of New Shoreham, have as- 

 sured me, that according to their best estimation, having never used the 

 balance, the numb-fish sometimes weighs as much as a hundred pounds, 

 avoirdupois. The liver is the only part which the fishermen prize ; 

 this organ they cut out, for its oil, and throw the body overboard. 



2. Ocellated Ray. (Raja ocellata.) With brown spotted and sharp 

 prickly back. # 



One of these fishes that was thirty inches long, was nineteen wide. 

 The shape rhomboidal. 



Colour of the back ash or pale brown, spotted with black. Toward 

 the posterior part of the flaps, a whitish mark on each side resembling a 

 butterfly's wing. Occasionally several smaller ones of the same kind. 



