386 AMERICAN FISHES. 



"Hard-head Shad," and in Eastern Connecticut "Bony Fish." In 

 Western Connecticut the species is usually known as the "White-fish," 

 while in New York the usage of two centuries is in favor of " Mossbunker." 

 This name is a relic of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, having 

 evidently been transferred from the "Scad," or "Horse Mackerel," 

 TracJiurus lacerta, a fish which visits the shores of Northern Europe in 

 immense schools, swimming at the surface in much the same manner as 

 our Menhaden, and known to the Hollanders as the " Marsbanker." 

 New Jersey uses the New York name with its local variations, such as 

 "Bunker" and " Marshbanker." In Delaware Bay, the Potomac and 

 the Chesapeake, we meet with the "Alewife," " Bay Alewife," " Pilcher " 

 (Pilchard), and "Green-tail." Virginia gives us "Bug-fish," "Bug- 

 head" and "Bug-shad," referring to the parasitic crustacean found in 

 the mouths of all Southern Menhaden. In North Carolina occurs the 

 name " Fat-back," which prevails as far south as Florida, and refers to 

 the oiliness of the flesh. In this vicinity, too, the names "Yellow-tail" 

 and " Yellow-tail Shad " are occasionally heard, while in Southern Florida 

 the fish is called " Shiner " and " Herring." In South America, among 

 the Portuguese, the name " Savega " is in use. On the St. John's River, 

 and wherever Northern fishermen are found, " jSIenhaden " is preferred, 

 and it is to be hoped that this name will in time be generally adopted. 

 A number of trade names are employed by the manufacturers in New 

 Jersey who can this fish for food ; these are "American Sardine," "Ameri- 

 can Club-fish," " Shadine " and "Ocean Trout." 



The geographical range of Brevooi-tia tyran/nis varies from year to year. 

 In 1877 it was, so far as it is definable in words, as follows : The wander- 

 ings of the species are bounded by the parallels of north latitude 25° and 

 45°; on the continental side by the line of brackish water; on the east 

 by the inner boundary of the Gulf Stream. In the summer it occurs in 

 the coastal waters of all the Atlantic States from IMaine to Florida, in 

 winter only south of Cape Hatteras. The limits of its winter migration 

 oceanwards cannot be defined, though it is demonstrated that the species 

 does not occur about the Bermudas or Cuba, nor presumably in the Carib- 

 bean Sea. 



With the advance of spring. Menhaden appear near our coasts in com- 

 pany with, and usually slightly in advance of, the other non-resident 

 species, such as the Shad, Alewife, bluefish and squeteague. The follow- 



