MASTERS OF THE WATER-BONY FISHES 



245 



The pinfish (sailor's choice), Lagodon rhomhoides, reaches only 10 inches. 

 It ranges from Cape Cod to Cuba and Texas, being common only south of 

 Delaware. The vertical barring is faint or absent, and there are gold stripes, 

 fainter than those of the brim, running on the back and sides from gill cover 

 to the tail fin, which is yellowish. There is also a dark spot above the pectoral 

 fin as in the brim. 



Fig. 134. Sheepshead 



Fig. 135. Bream. 



Fig. 136. Gray mojarra 



BREAM (silver porgy, sargo, PINFISH, spot) : Dij^lodzis holhrookl 



Size: Averages 8 to 12 inches. Up to 20 inches. 



Distribution: From Cape Hatteras south to the Gulf of Mexico. 



Identification: The black spot on the caudal peduncle is distinctive. There may 

 be faint dark crossbars on this otherwise plain, silver fish. 



Habits: This fish swims in small groups about shallow reefs or in rocky waters. 

 It seems to prefer to swim in the shallow, sandy areas near or between rocky 

 places or coral heads, and it often schools with snappers, grunts, porkfish and 

 smaller parrot fish. It is omnivorous on various animal and plant foods. 



Similar Species: This species is replaced by the silver bream, Diplodus 

 argenteus, in the West Indies. 



MOJ ARRAS: Family Gerridae 



These are small, intensely silver fishes predominant in American waters but 

 found in all tropical and subtropical seas. The mouth is extremely protrusible, 

 and the maxillary bone folds into a noticeable slot below the eye and on the 

 snout. This gives the lips a peculiar pursed look. The spiny dorsal fin is high 

 anteriorly, sloping behind. There are several species, but all are quite similar 

 to one another and are principally inhabitants of sandy shores. 



GRAY MOJARRA (sHAD, MOJARRA blanca) : Gervcs cinereiis 



Size: Averages 8 inches. Up to a little over a foot. 



Distribution: The West Indies north to Florida. Tropical west coast of Mexico. 



