THE KING AND QUEEN FISHES. 125 



brina cirrhosa, is somewhat similar in general appearance, and its flesh is 

 highly esteemed. This feeds on small fishes, mollusks, and, according to 

 Yarrow, on sea-weed, sometimes attaining a weight of forty pounds. This 

 magnitude I have not seen approximated by our species, although it is pos- 

 sible that it may occasionally reach a large size. Of its distribution 

 southward I can find no satisfactory account." 



In 1879 numerous small individuals of this species appeared in the har- 

 bor of Provincetown, Mass.; they seemed however, to be out of their 

 proper habitat, and many were chilled by the coldness of the water and 

 cast up on the beach. In 1880 and 1881, the species is said to have been 

 particularly abundant on the coast of New Jersey, and to have afforded 

 much sport to anglers of that vicinity, many of whom had not been famil- 

 iar with it in previous years. 



Mr. A. N. Cheney gives the following instructions for King-fish angling : 



"A light rod and multiplying reel, a strong and very light line, a 

 swivel sinker and two rather small hooks are what is required in the way 

 of tackle ; much the same rig as is used in weakfishing. The bait is either 

 shedder crab or sand-worm. The King-fish is thoroughly game ; he seizes 

 the bait eagerly and then goes to the bottom, following up this movement 

 with long runs from right to left ; it is really remarkable what a determined 

 resistance the little King-fish will make. In size he varies from one to six 

 pounds, the average being two or three pounds. The time to fish for 

 them is when the tide is running in. Kingfish can be caught along the 

 south side of Long Island, off the Jersey coast at Atlantic City, Long 

 Branch and Barnegat Inlet, and further south they are very common." 



The Whitings, favorite food-fishes of the Southern coast, embrace the 

 two species, Mcnticirrus alburnus and M. littoralis, both closely allied 

 in general character to the King-fish of more northern waters. They are 

 said to occur abundantly from Cape Fear River, N. C, to the Rio Grande, 

 in Texas. Uhler and Lugger claim that they inhabit the salt water of 

 the Chesapeake Bay and its estuaries, but it is not probable that they are 

 at all abundant. On the coast of South Carolina, according to Dr. Hol- 

 brook, the Whiting remains all the year round, and although few are 

 taken in December and January, yet they are sufficient to prove themselves 

 constant residents. Near Charleston in the spring and summer months 

 they are very abundant ; they enter the mouths of bays and rivers, and 

 are captured in great numbers. They take the hook readily ; their favor- 



