THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 59 



toral large, immediately behind fifth gill-opening, inferior, reach- 

 ing a little beyond origin of first dorsal, strong anteriorly, flexible 

 posteriorly. Ventral subtriangular, nearly intermediate between 

 dorsals, anteriorly flexible. Claspers large, subcylindric, pro- 

 foundly striated, above with striae transverse and very rugose, 

 medianly oblique and distally longitudinally, and also rugose. 

 Lead-color, darker on back and paler on belly. Length 32 feet 

 10 inches, of dried skin 22 feet. Brown's Point. (Le Sueur.) 



This very rare giant shark, which is apparently unknown, to 

 most fishermen, does not seem to have been noted since Le Sueur's 

 time, early in the last century. At times large examples from 

 other places outside the state are exhibited by traveling showmen. 



Cetorhimts maximum Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 828. 



Squalus elephas Le Sueur, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 11, 

 1822, p. 343, PI. 



Family GALEID^. 



The Typical Sharks. 



Snout produced as usual among sharks, not hammer-shaped. 

 Spiracles small or obsolete. Gill-openings moderate, last above 

 base of pectoral. Oviparous. Dorsal fins 2, first short and 

 high and entirely before ventrals. Second dorsal opposite anal, 

 and comparatively small. Tail more or less bent upward from 

 base of caudal fin, and sides without keel. Fins without spines. 



This the largest group of recent sharks, found in all seas, has 

 many species, often closely related and diflicult to determine. 



Key to I he genera. 



a. MusTEUN,^. Teeth flat and paved. cynais 



aa. GalEin^. Teeth more or less compressed, with entire or serrate sharp 



edges. 



h. Spiracles present; teeth all coarsely serrate, alike in. both jaws, and 



all with deep notch on outer margin; caudal with double notch and 



without conspicuous pit above at root. galEus 



hh. Spiracles obsolete ; lower teeth narrower than upper. 



c. Angle of mouth without groove, or with merely a slight depres- 

 sion not extending along either jaw. carcharhinus 

 cc. Angle of mouth with more or less distinct groove extending along 

 one or both jaws; teeth nearly entire. scoliodon 



