336 HISTOKY or the fishes of MASSACHUSETTS. 



and, as tlie season adyances, diminish gradually in price to fifty cents. Most of the fish 

 arc disposed of at the seines (fiesh), and cured by the purchasers. Two or more dams 

 across the " Great Riyer," at Taunton, impede the progress of this species yery much ; 

 and on the " Little Eiyer," where many dams and factories haye been erected, and 

 where forty years ago thousands were taken, not one is now to be seen. In the Merri- 

 mack Eiyer, too, they haye been diminishing in numbers for the last twenty years ; the 

 fishermen think this is owing to the small ponds emptying into the riyer haying been 

 dammed up. A pond in Manchester and Chester was formerly famous for its alewiyes. 

 At some seasons, large quantities are taken in Mystic Riyer ; thus, fifty thousand were 

 taken at one haul at Medford, in April, 1844. 



A larger quantity of alewiyes is packed than of any other species of this family. 

 In 1832, 1,730 barrels were inspected; in 1833, 2,266 ; in 1834, 4,320; in 1835, 5,600 ; 

 in 1836, 5,000; in 1837, 1,182; in 1838, 604; in 1839, 2,769 ; in 1840, 1,474 ; in 

 1841, 2,840; in 1842, 3,580; in 1843, 5,554; in 1844, 6,380 ; in 1845, 4,714; in 

 1846, 2,626|; in 1847, 3,843; in 1848, 1,899^; in 1849, 2,189 ; in 1850, 1,629 ; 

 in 1851, 1,358|^; in 1852, 1,604; in 1853, 1,580 ; in 1854, 1,645 ; in 1855, 2,775; in 

 1856, 2,740^ ; in 1857, 2,497. 



New Hampshire, Peck. Massachusetts, Stoker. Connecticut, Linsley. New York, 

 MiTCHiLL, Dekay. Chesapeake Bay, Mitchill. 



Alosa menhadei^, Storer. 



The Menhaden. 



(Plate XXVL Fig-. 4.) 



Chpea menhaden, Bomj-fisli, Eard-lieads^ oi Marsh-hankers of New Yoik, MxTcn , Trans. Lit. and Phil Soc of N. Y., i. 



p 453, pi 5, ^g, 7. 

 Alosa menJiadeUj Menhaden^ Hard-heady Stoheu, Repoifc, p. 117. 



" « MosS'honher, Dekat, Report, p. 259, pi 21, fig. 60. 



" " Ayees, Bost. Joum. Nat. Hist.^ iy. p. 275. 



" " Stoker, Mem. Amer. Acad , New Series, ii. p. 459 



" '* « Synopsis, p. 207. 



UAlose menhaden, Alausa menhaden, Cut. et Yal , Hist. Nat, des Pois , xx p. 424. 



Color. Upper part of body of a greeaish-browii, darker upon the top of the 

 head and at the snout ; upper part of the sides in the living fish roseous, and mot- 

 tled with indistinct bluish oscillations, which disappear in death ; abdomen silvery ; 

 gill-covers cupreous, with a rosy tint; space in front of the eyes translucent; a black 

 spot, more or less distinct, upon the shoulders ; whole surface of the fish iridescent. 



