COBIA, MO ON- FISH AND FLASHER. 147 



The range of this species along our coast is very M'ide. It has been 

 found in Guatemala, and perhaps farther scnith. and the ]5ritish Museum 

 has sjjecimens from Texas, Santo Domingo, and Jamaica. It is said to be 

 somewhat abundant on the coast of South Carolina, and not uncommon at 

 the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. They are occasionally taken about 

 New York, and several individuals have been obtained by the Fish Com- 

 mission at Woods Holl. It is occasionally taken ir. Southern California, 

 about San Diego. It attains the length of eighteen inches and the weight 

 of se\cral jiounds. The large adult specimens have a jjcculiar globular bone 

 in the head, unlike anything which has been found in any other fish. 

 Two species have been recognized l)y American ichthyologists. It seems 

 probable that these represent different ages of tlie same fish. The onlv 

 study of its habits in existence is the following, which is quoted from Mr. 

 Stearns' excellent journal of obser\ations. 



" The Spade-Fish, CJicztodipieriis fabcr, is common on the West Florida, 

 Alabama, and Louisiana coasts. I have not observed it in South Florida. 

 It is found throughout the summer and fall in the bays, about whar\-es, 

 rock-piles, and old wrecks, where crustaceous animals are abundant. In 

 October and November large schools are seen along the sea-beaches, e\i- 

 dently leaving the coast for warmer waters, at which time many are caught 

 by seine fishermen. It spawns in early summer, and the young are seen 

 until October. 1 have seen specimens of Spade-fish fifteen inches long ; 

 but the average size is not more than eight inches. It is an excellent 

 pan-fish, selling readily in market." 



This species is known to the fishermen of the St. John's and Indian 

 Rivers, Fla., under the name " Angel-fish." Holbrook states that it ap- 

 i)ears on the shores of South Ca.^lina in May and June, and is then taken 

 in considerable numbers with the sei"e. Jordan states that it is common 

 at Beaufort, N. C, where it is used as a food-fish. Lugger remarks that 

 it is not uncommon in the salt-water region near the entrance to Chesa- 

 1 eake Bay, but is seldom, if e\er, brought to the Baltimore markets. 

 DeKay remarks tliat in the waters of New York it only appears jieriodi- 

 cally, and occasionally in great numbers during the summer months. 

 About 1S22 they were caught here in seines in great numbers, and exposed 

 in the markets for sale. I am not aware that any such incursion has since 

 1 een observed. On the coast of California, where, according to Jordan 

 ir IS occasionally taken about San Diego in the kelp, it is too rare to be of 

 commercial importance. 



