BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 43 



the Ainber-fisli. 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 Seri- 

 oJa Lalandii. This species also occurs on the coast of California, where, 

 according 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 4 to 5 feet, and a weight of 50 to GO pounds, 

 and individuals of less than 15 i^ounds weight are rarely seen. It ranges 

 from the tropical Pacific northward to the Santa Barbara and Corona- 

 dos Islands, where it is found in great abundance in the spawning sea- 

 son, arriving in July and departing in early fall. It spawns about Au- 

 gust 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 Whitefish and 

 Barracuda." 



The Eunnee. 



{Elagatis pinmdatiis. ) 



This West Indian fish, known at Key West as " Skipjack" or "Run- 

 ner," and at Pensacola as "Yellow-tail" or "Shoemaker," is, according 

 to Stearns, " abundant on the western and southern coasts of Florida. 

 At Pensacola it spawns in spring; the young fish are seen in July and 

 August. It is found in the bays and along the sea beaches, seeming to 

 prefer clear, salt water, swift currents, and sandy bottoms. It usually 

 moves in small schools of a dozen or two individuals. It feeds upon 

 small fishes and crustaceans. When pursued by larger fish it jumjjs 

 repeatedly from the water, very much in the same manner as the Flying- 

 fish, only its flights are much shorter and oftener repeated. This habit 

 has given it the names of "Skipjack" and "Eunner,"at Key West, 

 where it may be seen at almost any time. It is sometimes eaten at Key 

 West, and at Havana is quite an important fish in the markets, being 

 also exposed for sale at stands on the streets, cooked and ready for use." 



The Leather-jacket. 



{OlkjopUtes occidentalis.) 



This fish, which is found throughout the West Indies and south as 

 far as Bahia, has, since 1875, been several times observed between 

 Florida and Newport, R. I. It is known to fishermen as the " Skii)- 

 jack," sharing this name with a number of other scombroid fishes which 

 leap from the water as they pursue theu" prey. It is one of the most 

 beautiful and graceful fishes in our waters, but at present is of no eco- 

 nomic importance. 



