FISHES OF NEW YORK 42t> 



pterygoids, and tongue; lateral line with a wide arch, its length 

 one and one third in straight part, the angle under fifth dorsal 

 ray, plates not covering all of the straight part, lateral line 

 (scutes) about 30; dorsal spines short, rather stout; gill rakers 

 stout, rather long, 15 below angle; occipital keel sharp; eye not 

 very large; pectoral falcate, one fifth longer than head; breast 

 naked, with only a small triangular patch of scales in front of 

 ventrals; caudal lobes equal, nearly as long as head. D. VIII-I, 

 20; A. II-I, 17. 



Olivaceous above, sides and below golden; a large, distinct 

 black blotch on opercle, bordered behind with pale; a large faint 

 black spot on lower rays of pectorals, the latter sometimes 

 wanting in young; axil of pectoral with a black blotch; edge of 

 soft dorsal black; upper edge of caudal peduncle dusky. 



The crevall is found on the east coast from Nova Scotia, 

 southward, ranging to the West Indies and Brazil. The young 

 are very common along the coast of southern New England in 

 summer. De Kay calls it the yellow caranx, and Mitchill men- 

 tions it as the yellow mackerel. The specimens seen by both 

 these authors came from the bay of New York. 



At Woods Hole Mass, the young arrive in July and leave in 

 October. In Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J., young individuals 

 were taken sparingly in August. De Kay records the species 

 as abundant in New York bay in September and October. The 

 writer saw several examples from a fish trap at Islip L. I., Oct. 1, 

 1890. 



Young crevall^ make a croaking sound when captured in a 

 net or held in the hand. 



On the gulf coast of Florida, Alabama and Mississippi the 

 fish is migratory, just as it is here; it makes its appearance in 

 April, spawns in July or August, and then disappears and is 

 replaced by the young. It feeds on small fish, which it pur- 

 sues eagerly, and is preyed on by sharks and porpoises. 



It grows to the length of 15 inches and is highly prized for 

 food. 



The crevalle' can be successfully kept in captivity in large 

 pools with a temperature above 50 in winter. The fish occa- 

 sionally school together under a large shark and follow it about. 



