HABITS OP THE PILOT-FISH. 331 



The Pilot-fish has been observed in one or two instances about New York, and has also been 

 recorded from South Carolina. It is, however, rare in the Western Atlantic, and our museums have 

 very few specimens. 



106. THE AMBER-FISHES AND THE LEATHER-JACKETS. 

 THE AMBER-FISH SERIOLA CAROLINENSIS. 



Mr. Silas Stearns writes concerning the habits of this fish in the Gulf of Mexico: 

 "The Amber-fish is quite common off the West Florida coast, occurring in from ten to thirty 

 fathoms of water on or near the 'snapper banks' throughout the year. It is a very active fish, 

 swimming just below the water's surface, preying upon schools of small fish. It is rather shy of 

 a baited hook, and but few are caught. It is a good food-fish. It attains a size of forty inches 

 length and fifteen pounds weight. Its average size but little more than half that." It is also, 

 according to Jordan, rather common on the Carolina coast, where it is known as the "Jack-fish." 



THE PENSACOLA KOCK SALMON SERIOLA FALCATA. 



The "Rock Salmon" of Pensacola, Seriola falcata, is recorded by Stearns as occasionally 

 occurring near Pensacola in company with the preceding species, which it resembles in habits. It 

 is caught with hook and line and is eaten; in .his opinion, it attains a larger size than the Amber- 

 fish. There is a third species of Amber-fish of which the National Museum has received a single 

 specimen from South Florida. It is closely related to the fish described by Cuvier under the name 

 Seriola Lalandii. The same species is sometimes sent to the New Orleans market, where an 

 example was seen by Professor Jordan. 



THE CALIFORNIA YELLOW- TAIL SERIOLA DORSALIS. 



Another closely allied species, Seriola dorsalis, occurs on the coast of California, where, accord- 

 ing to Jordan, it is known under the names "Yellow-tail," "White Salmon," and " Cavasina." 



Of the "Yellow-tail," Professor Jordan says: "It reaches a length of four to five feet, and a 

 weight of thirty to forty pounds, and individuals of less than fifteen pounds weight are rarely seen. 

 It ranges from Cape San Lucas northward to the Santa Barbara and Corouados Islands, where 

 it is found in great abundance in the spawning season, airiviug in July, and departing in early 

 fall. It spawns about August 18. It is caught chiefly by trolling. It feeds on squid and such 

 fish as the anchovy and sardine. As a fresh fish it; ranks high, although large individuals are 

 sometimes coarse and tough. When salted and dried it is inferior to none on the coast, ranking 

 with the white-fish and barracuda." 



THE BANDED RUDDER-FISH SERIOLA ZONATA. 



This species has been observed as far north as Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts. Several 

 specimens have been taken north of Cape Cod during the past forty years. It is a small fish, 

 rarely exceeding six or eight inches in length, conspicuous by reason of its brilliant and beautiful 

 colors, and good to eat, though rarely saved by the fishermen who accidentally capture it. It is 

 called in Southern New England the "Rudder-fish" on account of its resemblance to the Rudder- 

 fish of the ocean, Naucrates ductor. 



THE MEDREGAL SERIOLA FASCIATA. 



This fish, called in Cuba the "Medregal" and in Bermuda the "Bouito", has been observed in 

 South Florida and along the coasts of the Caroliuas. It is apparently exceedingly rare in the 



