MASTERS OF THE WATER-BONY FISHES 



183 



are band-shaped and transparent, 2 to 3 inches long, and are frequently thrown 

 upon beaches by the waves, known locally as "ghost fishes." This is a schooling 

 species and is occasionally found over deep waters. 



BONEFISHES: Family Albulidae 



These are, like the two previous species, brilliant, silvery, and game species. 

 There is but one species of cosmopolitan distribution in warm seas. The 

 bonefishes have a mouth under a piglike snout. The dorsal fin is large, high, 

 and in advance of the ventrals, and the body is stout. 



BONEFISH (lADYFISH, BANANA FISh) : Alhulu VulfeS 



Size: Up to 3 feet. 



Weight: Averages 2 to 5 pounds. Up to 16 pounds. 



Distribution: The tropics north to Florida and San Diego. Rarely north to 

 Cape Cod and Monterey Bay. 



Identification: Same as for the family. 



Habits: As is suggested by the position of the mouth, this is a bottom feeder, 

 apparently the only isospondylous fish that is. It comes inshore in shallow 

 water with the tide to feed over sand or mud on small fish, crustaceans, and 

 worms. It is extremely fast and wary. The Latin name means "whitish fox." 

 It is usually solitarv but schools when small, and is sought after as a game fish, 

 there being few fish that are harder to hook and land. Like the two former 

 fishes, it also has transparent, bandlike, larval young, and like the ten-pounder, 

 these young are sometimes thrown ashore in great numbers. 



The underwater swimmer will be lucky to see a bonefish and will need all 

 the skill and stealth at his command to approach one, for the least disturbance 

 will send it off at high speed. Bonefish are kept only with difficulty in aquariums. 

 Slight disturbances by spectators send them smacking into the walls of their 

 tanks in efforts to escape. 



Fig. 88. Milkfish. 



MILKFISHES: Family Chanidae 



This is the fourth and last of the large, brilliant, silvery, game, isospondylous 

 fishes of North America. The body is spindle-shaped and compressed, and the 



