(1683) If this word scales should appear a little strange to some people because we usually understand it to mean the outer skin of fishes , what we call fish - scales , I do not yet see why , instead of speaking of our outer skin , we should not be allowed to speak of the scales that cover and protect our skin .And just as we call the cuticle of breams and carps fish - scales , so also we call the cuticle of cods and smelts fish - See letter of ( Collected Letters , I , p .113 ) .