44-O SKY KM 1 1 RKPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



ing the species: "About twenty years since, they were caught here in seines in 

 great numbers and exposed in the market for sale. Some of them were 18 inches 

 long. Those described by Mitchill were captured in 1815 and 1817. The popular 

 names of Three-tailed Sheepshead and Three-tailed 1'orgce were given them by the 

 fishermen in allusion to their prolonged dorsal and anal fins . . . Schoepff 

 states that it is called Angel fish in South Carolina." 



The species is called Spade fish in the States bordering the Gulf of Mexico. 



The Moon fish has occasionally been taken as far north as Cape Cod. Dr. Smith 

 records it as a very rare straggler in Vineyard Sound, Mass. A specimen was 



SPADE FISH. 



obtained in 1889, and three have been observed since. All were taken in traps at 

 Menemsha in August and September. The fish were uniform in size and about 16 

 to 1 8 inches long. The species reaches a length of 2 to 3 feet. Southward it is 

 recorded as far as Guatemala. It occurs in the West Indies. In Chesapeake Bay 

 it is moderately common. 



As a food fish this species is highly prized by those who are familiar with its 

 qualities. 



