12 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



22. Trachinotus falcatus (Linnaeus). Round pompano. 



This species, like T. glaucws, is seldom seen in the Key West mar- 

 kets. The few fish caught are called " pompano " and are utilized 

 for food. Maximum weight about 3 pounds; average, one-half 

 pound. 



Range. — "Woods Hole (Mass.) to Brazil. Adults not common 

 north of Florida; young, 1 to 2 inches long, taken in southern Mas- 

 sachusetts and lower Chesapeake Bay, whence they are transported 

 by the Gulf Stream. Rather common in Bermuda. 



23. Trachinotus goodei Jordan and Evermann. Great pompano; 

 Permit. 



The great pompano is taken with hook and line near Kej' "West 

 during the winter. The annual catch, however, is small. It is a 

 fair food fish, but inferior to the common pompano (T. c&rolinus). 

 Maximum weight, about 40 pounds; average, 8 pounds. 



Range. — Usual range North Carolina to West Indies; rare north 

 of Florida. The young (about 3 inches long) have been recorded 

 from Woods Hole. Mass. 



24. Trachinotus carolinus (Linnaeus). Common pompano. 



This species is the most valuable of the pompanos and is consid- 

 ered one of the choicest of all salt-water fishes. About Key West it 

 is taken in small numbers during the winter, but the annual catch 

 is small. It is more common along both coasts of Florida, preferring 

 sandy bottom, where it feeds near shore on small mollusks and 

 crustaceans. At Key West it is taken with hook and line and, inci- 

 dentally, in mullet eeines. It always commands a high price and is 

 esteemed for its rich flavor in all parts of its range. Maximum 

 weight, 8 pounds; average, H pounds. 



Range. — Woods Hole. Mass., along the South Atlantic coast and 

 Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Not common north of Chesapeake Bay, 

 in the West Indies, or Brazil. 



25. Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus). Bluefish. 



The bluefish is taken along the Florida keys only during the 

 winter — generally between December 15 and February 15. A few 

 are caught by trolling, but the greater part of the catch is taken 

 along with the Spanish mackerel in gill nets or purse seines. During 

 the past 10 years the annual catch has been from 10,000 to 15,000 

 pounds. The entire catch is shipped to New York, where it com- 

 mands a high price, for fresh bluefish are scarce in northern markets 

 during the winter. The bluefish is one of the best American food 

 fishes. Its maximum weight is given as 2*7 pounds, but examples 

 weighing more than 12 pounds are uncommon. The usual weight 

 of the Key West fish is between 2 and 4 pounds, while 6 pounds is 

 about the maximum. 



Range. — Wide distribution; Atlantic and Indian Oceans; occasion- 

 ally enters the Mediterranean Sea; Malay Archipelago; Australia; 

 Cape of Good Hope; Natal; Madagascar. Not recorded from the 

 Atlantic coast of Europe or from Bermuda. On our coast it has 

 been recorded as far north as Mount Desert, Me. 



