THE SCUPPAUG AND THE FAIR MAID. 



99 



ISninswick, Ga., and al)Out Key West, bears several other names, being 

 known about Cape Hatteras as tlie " Robin " and " Pin-fish," at Charles- 

 ton as the "Salt-water Bream," at Brunswick, Ga., as the "Squirrel- 

 fish" and "Sailor's Choice," in the St. John's River as the "Sailor's 

 Choice" and "' Porgy," in the Indian River region as the "Sailor's 

 Choice," "Scup," and "Yellow-tail," at Cedar Keys as the " Porgy " 

 and "Shiner," and at Pensacola as the " Chopa Spina." 



South of Cape Hatteras this fish is exceedingly abundant, and is usually 

 found in company with the sheepshead, which it much resembles in habits. 

 Its jaws, however, are not so strong as those of the sheepshead, by reason 

 of which it is debarred from feeding upon the stronger shelled mollusks 

 and crustaceans, which constitute the principal diet of the latter. 



On the Atlantic coast the largest individuals rarely exceed ten inches in 

 length, the ordinary size in Eastern Florida being six or eight inches, 

 with the weight of five or six ounces. 



The Sailor's Choice is one of the most deliciously flavored fishes of our 

 coast, being preferred to the young sheepshead by many of those who are 

 familiar with its good qualities. Lugger states that it enters the drains of 

 the ocean coast of Maryland, and is occasionally caught in the low^er part 

 of the Chesapeake Bay. According to Jordan they are excessively abund- 

 ant everywhere in the harbor of Beaufort, N. C, where they are taken by 

 the thousand by boys with hook and line from the wdiarves, but are seldom 

 used for food, and are found equally numerous through the Gulf States 

 coast. 



At Charleston, according to Holbrook, this fish is taken at all seasons 

 of the year, though most plentiful in May and June. No reference is 

 made by this author to its value as an article of food. At Brunswick, 

 Ga., the Sailor's Choice is highly esteemed ; in the St. John's it is very 

 abundant, and is taken in company with the sheepshead far up the river. 

 It is easily captured with hooks baited with shrimp, and is considered to 

 be a very superior pan-fish, its flesh resembling that of the scuppaug, 

 though much sweeter and harder. 



In the Indian River region, according to Mr. S. C. Clarke, this fish is 

 resident all the year, and is very abundant. The weight of the largest 

 obser\-ed by him was one pound. The average weight is about five ounces. 

 They are found in the deep water, or salt water, feeding upon minnows, 

 small crabs, and shrimps. The spawn is pale blue, and of the size of 



