RG XVIII-A-1 Publications. Memoirs. “A History of the Fishes of Massachusetts,” illustrations.
ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
History
As a commissioner for the Natural History Survey of the Commonwealth of 1837, physician David Humphreys Storer was responsible for the description of the fish and reptiles of Massachusetts. After publishing his report in 1840 on the two subjects, Storer spent more than twenty-five years studying the fish of Massachusetts.
Between 1853 and 1867 the Academy published, in six installments, Storer’s “A History of the Fishes of Massachusetts” in Memoirs. In this work he described many species and elucidated their natural history, paying particular attention to their role in the local economy. Storer’s descriptions included in total 39 plates of figures, many of them drawn by various draughtsmen including Antoine Sonrel, A.C. Warren, and William Henry Tappan. The plates were engraved by Tappan & Bradford.
Storer’s research was later published in a book of the same title in 1867 and was called by Academy Fellow and entomologist Samuel H. Scudder a “land-mark in the ichthyological literature of the country.”
Scope and Content
This sub-series contains records of the Memoirs feature “A History of the Fishes of Massachusetts” by David Humphreys Storer, published between 1853 and 1867.
It is composed of sketches of the fish, and occasionally their detail, later published as plates in the feature. They are in various states of completion. The sketches are drawn in pencil and ink on cardstock, with handwritten notes in pencil. The handwritten notes include captions for the images and instructions, such as: “To the engraver – It will be necessary to stipple this fish as it is covered with fine, sharp scales too small to be outlined.” Rarely, an unrelated sketch or illustration is drawn on the back. On most of the illustrations, a sheet of tissue paper was glued onto the cardstock to protect the drawing. However, many of these sheets have become damaged and/or brittle.
A small part of the sub-series are wrappers or envelopes that contained the sketches, and one sheet has draft text of a sentence for publication in the text block.
Arrangement
All of the illustrations in this sub-series relate to “A History of the Fishes of Massachusetts” as published in Academy Memoirs, and are arranged in the order in which they appear in the published plates; first by plate, then by figure. Each illustration is additionally listed by the scientific name as it appears in Memoirs (including the identifying taxonomist), followed by the date of publication. These scientific names as published often have been superceded by later taxonomy, as such the fish depicted may be known by another name presently.
ITEM LIST
Box 1
Folder 1
04.3 – Cottus gracilis. Heckel, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_147.jpg
Folder 2
04.4, 5, 6 – Boleosoma olmstedi. Agassiz, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_156.jpg
Folder 3
08.1 – Aspidophorus monopterygius. Cuvier, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_149.jpg
Folder 4
08.5 – Gasterosteus dekayi. Agassiz, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_157.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_158.jpg
Folder 5
13.1 – Cybium maculatum. Cuvier, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_150.jpg
Folder 6
13.2 – Xiphias gladius. Linnea, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_151.jpg
Folder 7
13.3, 4, 5 – Palinurus perciformis. Dekay, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_152.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_153.jpg
Folder 8
14 – [wrapper for illustrations in plate 14], 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_160.jpg
Folder 9
14.1 – Caranx crysos. Cuvier, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_159.jpg
Folder 10
14.3 – Argyreiosus capillaris. Dekay, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_140.jpg
Folder 11
15 – [wrapper for illustrations in plate 15], 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_135.jpg
Folder 12
15.1 – Temnodon saltator. Cuvier, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_139.jpg
Folder 13
15.4 – Rhombus triacanthus. Dekay, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_136.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_137.jpg
Folder 14
15.5 – Seriola zonata. Cuvier, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_138.jpg
Folder 15
16.1, 2, 3 – Atherina notata. Mitchill, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_132.jpg
Folder 16
16.4, 5 – Mugil lineatus. Mitchill, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_130.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_131.jpg
Folder 17
17 – [wrapper for illustrations in plate 17], 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_129.jpg
Folder 18
17.1 – Blennius serpentinus. Storer, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_144.jpg
Folder 19
17.2 – Gunnellus mucronatus. Cuvier, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_121.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_120.jpg
Folder 20
17.4 – Zoarces anguillaris. Storer, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_146.jpg
Folder 21
18.1 – Anarrhicus vomerinus. Agassiz, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_123.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_122.jpg
Folder 22
18.2 – Lophius americanus. Cuvier, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_134.jpg
Folder 23
20.1 – Ctenolabrus ceruleus. Dekay, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_110.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_111.jpg
Folder 24
20.2 – Tautoga americana. Dekay, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_112.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_113.jpg
Folder 25
20.3 – Pimelodus atrarius. Dekay, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_124.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_125.jpg
Folder 26
21.2 – Leucosomus americanus. Girard, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_142.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_141.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_143.jpg
Folder 27
21.3 – Hypsolepis cornutus. Girard, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_126.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_127.jpg
Folder 28
21.4 – Argyreus atronasus. Heck, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_107.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_108.jpg
Folder 29
22.2 – Cheilonemus pulchellus. Girard, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_115.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_114.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_116.jpg
Folder 30
22.3 – Catostomus bosteniensis. Lesueur, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_133.jpg
Folder 31
22.4 – Catostomus gibbosus. Lesueur, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_145.jpg
Folder 32
23.4 – Fundulus pisculentus, female. Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_118.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_117.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_119.jpg
Folder 33
23.5 – Hydrargyra flavula, male. Storer, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_154.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_155.jpg
Folder 34
23.6 – Hydrargyra flavula, female. Storer, 1855
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_128.jpg
Folder 35
24.1 – Esox reticulatus. Lesueur, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_082.jpg
Folder 36
24.2 – Esox ornatus. Girard, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_081.jpg
Folder 37
24.3 – Belone truncata. Lesueur, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_087.jpg
Folder 38
24.4 – Scomberesox storeri. Dekay, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_083.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_084.jpg
Folder 39
25.2 – Salmo salar. Linnea, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_078.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_079.jpg
Folder 40
25.3 – Salmo fontinalis. Mitchill, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_080.jpg
Folder 41
25.4 – Osmerus viridescens. Lesueur, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_077.jpg
Folder 42
26.1 – Clupea elongata. Lesueur, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_090.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_090.jpg
Folder 43
26.2 – Alosa praestabilis. Dekay, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_101.jpg
Folder 44
26.3 – Alosa tyrannus. Dekay, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_100.jpg
Folder 45
26.4 – Alosa menhaden. Storer, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_099.jpg
Box 2
Folder 1
27.1 – Alosa cyanonoton. Storer, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_088.jpg
Folder 2
27.2 – Alosa lineata. Storer, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_093.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_094.jpg
Folder 3
27.4 – Morrhua americana. Storer, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_095.jpg
Folder 4
27.5 – Morrhua pruinosa. Dekay, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_085.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_086.jpg
Folder 5
28 – [wrapper for illustrations in plate 28], 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_109.jpg
Folder 6
28.1 – Morrhua aeglefinus. Linnea, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_098.jpg
Folder 7
28.2 – Merlucius albidus. Dekay, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_091.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_092.jpg
Folder 8
28.3 – Merlangus purpureus. Storer, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_096.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_097.jpg
Folder 9
28.4 – Lota compressa. Lesueur, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_106.jpg
Folder 10
29.1 – Motella caudacuta. Storer, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_103.jpg
Folder 11
29.2 – Brosmius flavescens. Lesueur, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_102.jpg
Folder 12
29.3 – Phycis americanus. Storer, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_075.jpg
Folder 13
29.4 – Phycis filamentosus. Storer, 1859
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_076.jpg
Folder 14
30.1 – Hippoglussus vulgaris. Cuvier, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_069.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_070.jpg
Folder 15
30.2 – Platessa plana. Mitchill, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_074.jpg
Folder 16
30.3 – Platessa dentata. Mitchill, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_065.jpg
Folder 17
30.4 – Platessa ferruginea. Storer, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_044.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_045.jpg
Folder 18
31.1 – Platessa glabra. Storer, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_072.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_0073.jpg
Folder 19
31.2 – Platessa oblonga. Dekay, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_067.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_068.jpg
Folder 20
[31.2b] – Platessa oblonga, [side of head]. Dekay, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_071.jpg
Folder 21
31.3 – Platessa quadrocellata. Storer, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_063.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_064.jpg
Folder 22
31.4 – Pleuronectes maculatus. Mitchill, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_066.jpg
Folder 23
32.1 – Achirus mollis. Cuvier, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_061.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_062.jpg
Folder 24
[32.1b] – Achirus mollis, [left side of head]. Cuvier, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_059.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_060.jpg
Folder 25
32.2 – Lumpus anglorum. Will, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_057.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_058.jpg
Folder 26
32.3 – [wrapper for Echeneis albacauda. Mitchill], 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_069.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_037.jpg
Folder 27
32.4 – Echeneis quatuordecimlaminatus. Storer, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_048.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_049.jpg
Folder 28
33.1 – Anguilla bostoniensis. Dekay, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_051.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_052.jpg
Folder 29
33.2 – Ammodytes americanus. Dekay, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_053.jpg
Folder 30
33.3 – Syngnathus peckianus. Storer, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_054.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_055.jpg
Folder 31
33.4 – Hippocampus hudsonius. Dekay, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_056.jpg
Folder 32
33.5 – Tetraodon turgidus. Mitchill, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_050.jpg
Folder 33
34.2 – Orthagoriscus mola. Schneider, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_104.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_105.jpg
Folder 34
35.1 – Monacanthus signifer. Storer, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_046.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_047.jpg
Folder 35
35.3 – Lactophrys yalei. Dekay, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_042.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_043.jpg
Folder 36
35.4 – Acipenser oxyrinchus. Mitchill, 1863
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_038.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_039.jpg
Folder 37
36.1, a – Carcharias griseus. Ayres, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_017.jpg
Folder 38
36.2 – Carcharias obscurus. Lesueur, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_004.jpg
Folder 39
36.3 – Carcharias vulpes. Cuvier, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_025.jpg
Folder 40
36.3 – Carcharias vulpes. Cuvier, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_032.jpg
Folder 41
37.1 – Lamna punctata. Storer, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_002.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_003.jpg
Folder 42
37.2, a – Mustelus canis. Dekay, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_022.jpg
Folder 43
38.1, a – Acanthias americanus. Storer, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_006.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_007.jpg
Folder 44
38.2, a – Seymnus brevipinna. Dekay, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_008.jpg
Folder 45
38.3, a – Zygaena malleus. Valenciennes, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_014.jpg
Folder 46
38.4, a, b – Petromyzon americanus. Lesueur, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_016.jpg
Folder 47
39.1 – Raia diaphanes. Mitchill, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_020.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_021.jpg
Folder 48
39.2 – Raia laevis. Mitchill, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_018.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_019.jpg
Folder 49
39.5 – Torpedo occidentalis. Storer, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_028.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_029.jpg
Folder 50
39.5 – Torpedo occidentalis. Storer, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_024.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_023.jpg
Folder 51
39.6 – Petromyzon nigricans. Lesueur, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_026.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_027.jpg
Folder 52
Unidentified, ca. 1853-1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_030.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_031.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_001.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_010.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_011.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_005.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_009.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_033.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_148.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_040.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_041.jpg
Box 3 (oversized and fragile)
Folder 1
36.4 – Carcharias atwoodi. Storer, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_162.jpg
Folder 2
36.4 – Carcharias atwoodi. Storer, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_015.jpg
Folder 3
37.3 – Selachus maximus. Cuvier, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_034.jpg
Folder 4
39.3 – Pastinaca hastate. Dekay, 1867
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_012.jpg
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_013.jpg
Folder 5
08.6 – Crptacanthodes maculatus. Storer, 1853
Image: /archive/images/Storer_Fishes_Plates_161.jpg
Folder 6
[envelope, “Drawings for Dr. Storer’s Fishes”], ca. 1853-1867