ccxlvi 
MiOROSTOMID®. FISHES. SALHIONIDiE. 
sacliusetts, altliougli otliers were I'lequently I'ound in 
the stomachs of Fislies. DeKay liad not met vvitli 
it. In tliis genus tlie month and gills are excess! vely 
cleft, and the tongue and palate are smooth ; small 
teeth are in both jaws. Maurolicns borealis (Nils- 
son). Guntli., is recorded as doubtful as to species. 
Its habitat is noted as Massachusetts. 
Family— SYNODON'I’ID^. 
'I’wo genera of this family, each represented by only 
one species, are I'ound in the waters of the East 
Coast of North America. 'J'rachinocephalus myops 
(Bloch, Schneider), Gill, ranges from Hatteras to 
Florida. Synodus foetens (Linn.), Gill, ranges from 
Cape Cod southwards. 
Family— MICEOSI'OMID^. 
'J’he Smelt is a prominent member of this family. 
Its generic characters are seen in an elongated body, 
covered with small scales ; two dorsal fins, the first 
with rays, the second fleshy, without rays ; the teeth 
on the jaws and tongue are very long. 
THE SMELT [Osmerus mordax {Mitch.) Gill). — In- 
habits from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras. Storer 
says: “ This beautiful species is brought to Boston 
market in large quantities in the .spring and autumn. 
In the spring it is taken in nets up the rivers, and 
in winter by hook beneath the ice. In AVatertown 
alone about 750,000 dozen are taken annually in 
scoop nets, from the first of .March to first of June.” 
A favorite amusement, when the rivers and harbors 
are frozen, is to fish for the Smelt through the ice. 
Boston harbor is a singularly lively locality during 
such seasons. 'I'he scene is picturesque, many de- 
vices being used to obtain shelter from the cold 
winds. 'I'eiits, bonfires, etc., are seen in great num- 
bers, spreading over miles in extent. Mitchill de- 
scribed this Fish as Salmo eperlanus. DeKay calls 
it American Smelt, and says: “This beautiful and 
popular Fish derives its name, Smelt, from its pe- 
culiar smell, which resembles that of cucumbers. 
They are derived mostly from the small streams 
emptying into the Sound, and from Hackensack and 
Passaic Rivers. It appears to vary considerably 
from the European species.” Couch says of the lat- 
ter : “It has been supposed that the name of Smelt 
was given on account of its agreeable odor, but the 
true meaning is assigned liy Johnson, and is the 
same as that used to signify the melting or smelting 
of metals — the a,p|)earance of transparency of the sub- 
stance of I he Fish, as if it had a tendency to melt 
away.” Rondelet figures a similar form under the 
name Eperlan, which refers to Ma pearly appearance. 
This name is retained as a specific designation for 
this Fish. The Smelt is highly prized, both here 
and abroad. In Scotland it is called Spirling, or 
Sparling. Belon figures three forms under the name 
Eperlan. One he terms the E. flaviatilii^ (River 
Eperlan) ; another is named Eperlanns. or Umbla. 
Mallotus villosus {Muller), Guv. — Called Capelin. 
Is found in the colder waters of the Polar regions, 
and southward to Nova Scotia. .Microstoma grcen- 
landica, Reinhardt, is native to Greenland watei-s. 
Family— S A LMONIDJE. 
This is perhaps the most notable of the families of 
Fishes, the typical forms, Salmon, 'I'rout, etc., being- 
most justly celebrated as game and as savory food. 
1’he scales are cycloid in shape, and rather small. 
'J’he lateral line is distinct and runs nearly parallel 
with the abdomen. 'I’he dorsal fin is situated about 
the middle of the body ; a second adipose dorsal is 
developed far behind ; the anal is smaller than the 
dorsal, and situated below about midway between 
the two dorsal fins ; the ventrals are abdominal and 
under the dorsal. 'I’he air-bladder is large and sim 
pie, communicating with the intestinal canal. 'I’he 
ovaries discharge their eggs into the cavity of the 
abdomen, from which they are directly excluded. 
Sixteen genera and one hundred and sixty species 
of this family are enumerated. 
SALMON {Salmo salar {Linn.), Gunther). — 'I’liis 
royal Fish has a range of habitat from the Polar re- 
gions to Cape Cod. It is found only in the coldest 
waters, and is equally distributed in Europe and 
America. Another species is knovvn to the Califor- 
nian coast. In some of the rivers of Maine the Salmo 
salar is quite abundant. It is thought that this Fish 
was formerly, at the time of the discovery of Amer- 
ica, common to the more southern waters. Hendrick 
Hudson records: “Great stores of Salmon in the 
river” — but it is considered certain that the Fish 
meant was the “Weak-fish.” DeKay says: “'I’he 
Salmon now seldom appears on our coast except as 
a straggler. It is now only seen on our northern 
borders, ascending the St. Lawrence from the sea, 
and ajipearing in Lake Ontario in April, and leaving 
it again in October or November. 'I’hey were for- 
merly abundant in the lakes, in the interior of New 
York, which communicate with Ontario. 'I’he arti- 
ficial impediments thrown in the way have greatly- 
tended to prevent the progress of this Salmon 
through these waters.” Eight other species are 
enumerated as inhabiting the Arctic regions. Dr. 
Storer says this excellent Fish is almost entirely 
driven out from the waters of Massachusetts by the 
numerous dams and manufacturing establishments, 
preventing it from going up the rivers to deposit its 
spawn. About the commencement of this century it 
was very abundant in l.he .Merrimack River. Our 
market is now siqiplied from the Kennebec River 
and from Nova, Scotia. 
SEA TROUT {Salmo immaculatus, H. R. Storer) is 
recorded as a doubtful species. It is found from 
Labrador to Nova Scotia. 
Family— PAR ALE PIDID M. 
'J’he name of this remarkable family is derived 
from the Greek, meaning “near to” and “scale.” 
'I’he form is elongate and pike-like, and the body 
covered with deciduous scales. 'I’he lateral line is 
straight and the head is pointed. 'I’he branchioste- 
gal rays are seven iti number. 'I'he dorsal fin is short 
ami far behind, and an adipose is still further back ; 
the anal is elongated; the caudal emarginatej the 
