2 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Elisha Bartlett, M. D,, of Lowell, for his interesting account of the jfisheries of the 



Merrimack River ; 



J. B. Forsyth, M. D., of Chelsea, formerly of Sandwich, for much useful information 

 respecting the fishes taken along '' the Cape " ; 



Jonathan Johnson, Jr., of Nahant, for several very rare species, and many valuable 

 observations concerning more common fishes. 



To Captain Nathaniel Blanchard, a veteran fisherman of Lynn, and Leroy M. Yale, 

 M. D., of Holmes's Hole, I am most deeply indebted; — ^to the former^ for his constant 

 and unwearied efforts to serve me amid the fatigues of his arduous occupation, during 

 the entire period I was engaged in the State Survey, and for many judicious remarks 

 and valuable details imparted to me, respecting the fishes and fisheries of the northern 

 shore of Massachusetts Bay ; and to the latter^ for his invaluable aid. To him I am 

 not only obliged for specimens of nearly one fifth of all the species I have described, 

 and which, but for him, I could not have procured, but also for many specimens of more 

 common species, and much valuable information respecting them. Since these obser- 

 vations were made, my excellent friend, Dr. Yale, while in the faithful discharge of his 

 professional duties, contracted a malignant disease, the attack of which he survived but 

 a {%w days. By his death, science has lost an enthusiastic votary, and his profession 

 a most honorable member. 



During the last six or eight years, no individual has rendered me such essential 

 assistance as Captain Nathaniel E. Atwood, of Provincetown. For nearly thirty years a 

 practical fisherman, thoroughly acquainted with the habits of most of our fishes, and 

 willing and ready to do all in his power to advance my wishes, he has placed me 

 under obligations which I cannot express. For several fishes never before described, 

 and for much acceptable information respecting each of our marketable species, I am 

 indebted to him, the best practical ichthyologist in our State. 



To Professor Agassiz my thanks are due for many valuable suggestions in the prepa- 

 ration of this work, and to his accomplished draughtsman, Mr. Sonrel, for the admirable 

 plates which illustrate it. 



In my nomenclature, I have been guided, as far as possible, by the principle w^hich 

 would give the credit of a species to the author who first placed it under its appropriate 

 genus. This plan, I am led to understand, is about being adopted by our most eminent 

 naturalists. 



In addition to the works mentioned in my " Synopsis of the Fishes of North 

 America,^' the following have been consulted in the preparation of this paper : — 



