THE CAVALLY AND OTHER CARANGOIDS. 227 



from specimens sent from South Carolina by Garden to Linnceus. The 

 name of this fish is usually written and printed " Crevalle," ])ut the form 

 in common use among the fishermen of the South, " Cavally," is nearer to 

 the Spanish and Portuguese names, Cavallia and Caballa, meaning 

 ^' horse." The name as used in South Carolina is a curious reduplication, 

 being a combination of the English and Spanish names fca* 'Miorse." It 

 should be carefully remembered that in South Carolina the name Crevalle 

 is most generally applied to quite another fish, the Pompano. 



I'he Cavally, as it seems most appropriate to call Caranx hippos, though 

 in individual cases occurring as far north as Cape Cod, and even, in one 

 instance, at Lynn, Mass., is not commonly known in the United States 

 north of Florida. Storer remarks : " This fish is so seldom seen in the 

 waters of South Carolina that we are unacquainted with its habits." I 

 observed a specimen in the Jacksonville market in April, 1S74. Con- 

 cerning the Cavally of Southern Florida, which is either this or a closely 

 allied species, Mr. H. S. Williams writes : 



" In the Indian River this is one of the best of the larger varieties. Its 

 season is from the ist of May to November. It ranges in weight from 

 three to twenty pounds, being larger and more numerous to the southward 

 toward the Mosquito Inlet. The south end of Merritt's Island and the 

 inlets opposite old Fort Capron seem to be a sort of headquarters for the 

 Cavalli. When in pursuit of prey they are very ravenous and move with 

 the rapidity of lightning. They readily take a troll either with bait or 

 rag. The favorite mode of capturing them, as well as all other large fish 

 that feed in shallow water or near the shore, is with a rifle. The high, 

 rocky shores aff"ord an excellent opportunity for this sport, though the 

 rapid movements of the fish render them very difficult target." S. C. 

 Clarke says : '' It will take a spoon or other troll, and would no doubt 

 rise to a fly. When hooked it makes long and vigorous runs, and fights 

 to the last." 



Mr. Stearns writes: "The Crevalle is common on the Gulf coast. In 

 AA'est Florida it appears in May and remains until late in the fall, and is 

 equally abundant in the bays and at sea. In the bays it is noticeable 

 from the manner in which it preys upon fish smaller than itself, the Gulf 

 menhaden and mullet being the most common victims. On arrival it 

 contains spawn which it probably deposits in the salt-water bayous, for in 

 the fall schools of young are seen coming out of those places on their way 



