74 AMERICAN FISHES. 



of the notes and measurements obtained in Florida confirmed my sus- 

 picion, which had been growing for years, that the species was new to 

 science. The name Lutjaniis Blackfordii was chosen in compliment to 

 Mr. Eugene G. Blackford, Commissioner of Fisheries of New York, whose 

 enthusiastic labors have greatly aided all students of American ichthyol- 

 ogy, and who has added several species of fishes to the fauna of the United 

 States. The genus Lutjamis was founded in 1787 by Bloch, who derived 

 its designation from Ikan lutjang, an Asiatic name for a kindred species of 

 the group. Its color is bright crimson, and it is the most conspicuous fish 

 ever to be seen in our markets. 



Seven years ago the geographical range of this species was supposed to 

 be limited at the north by Savannah Bank, but during the summer of 1880 

 several specimens were taken along the coast of the INIiddle States ; one, 

 nine-and-a-half pounds in weight, off Point Monmouth, New Jersey, Oc- 

 tober 5 ; another, about August 10, near Block Island. This northern ex- 

 tension of its range is quite unexpected, and the fact that even stragglers 

 find their way into the northern waters suggests great possibilities for the 

 future in the way of their artificial propagation and introduction along the 

 coast of the United States. In the South it is found on the same grounds 

 with the sea-bass, a species which is abundant as far north as Cape 

 Cod, and it is hard to understand why the banks which are favorite 

 haunts of this fish should not also be shared by the Red Snapper. In the 

 Gulf of Mexico the Red Snapper is exceedingly abundant in suitable lo- 

 calities from Key West to the Rio Grande. 



" About the Florida reefs." writes Silas Stearns, " and as far north as 

 Temple Bay, where there are reefs and rocks, they live in holes and gullies 

 where all kinds of marine animals and fish are most abundant, and some- 

 times, as I have noticed, off Charlotte Harbor numbers of them will con- 

 gregate about a solitary ledge jDrotruding over a level bottom of white sand. 

 Throughout this southern district the fishing spots are small, but very 

 numerous ; and away from the reefs, where the bottom is chiefly sand, it is 

 only necessary to find rocks or rocky bottom to find Red Snappers. Since 

 it is impracticable to make use of bearings by which to find the fishing 

 grounds, the fishermen sail about, throwing the lead continually until it 

 indicates the proper bottom. Along the coast from Temple Bay to Texas 

 the bottom declines very gradually to the hundred-fathom curve, forming 

 vast, almost level plains of sand. In these barren wastes there are gullies 



