THE SCUPPAUG. STENOTOMUS CHRYSOPS. 
THE SCUPPAUG AND THE FAIR MAID. 
Bait the hook well; this fish will bite. 
Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act ii, Scene iii. 
QCUPPAUG, the name of this fish, is an abbreviation of Mislicuppauog , 
an appellation used by the Narragansett Indians, which has unfor¬ 
tunately been corrupted to form two others, neither of which is euphon¬ 
ious or significant. In New England it is generally called “ Scup,” 
while about New York the second syllable of the abbreviated Indian 
name has been lengthened into “Paugy” or “Porgy.” The latter 
name is particularly objectionable because it belongs to an Eng¬ 
lish fish, and its proper etymology as a fish-name is very different. 
Another Indian word, “ poghaden,” a corrupt form of the Abnaki name 
for the menhaden, or moss-bunker, has been changed to “ pogy ” and 
“ porgy,” thus leading to much confusion. “ Scuppaug ” is an excellent 
name for the fish, and its claims for general adoption will be recognized 
by all who wish to preserve the memory of the aboriginal languages of 
America. 
