146 



AMERICAN FISHES. 



same way, and after I had gotten ' the hang of them ' I took a great 



many. 



THE MOON-FISH OU SPADE-FISH. 



The Moon-fish, Oicetodiptcrus fabcr, is one of the rarer species on our 

 coast, and has recently come so much into favor in New York that among 

 connoisseurs it is one of the most highly esteemed food-fishes. It is also 

 greatly valued by residents of Washington who know it, being abundant 

 in the markets of that city in summer. In the northern parts of the Gulf of 

 Mexico it is called the "Spade-fish"; from Florida to Charleston the 

 "Angel-fish," a name which, according to Schoepf, appears to have been 

 current during the last century at Beaufort, N. C, where it is called the 

 " Porgee " or '^ Porgy," and at New York, where it is stated to be found 

 in summer. " Three-tail Sheepshead " and "Three-tailed Porgee" are 

 names which are said to have been formerly in use among the New York 

 fishermen. 



