THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 329 



13. Leiostomus obliquus, DeKav. 



The Lafmjette. 



Leiostomus obliquus, DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 69, plale Ix, 



fig. 195. 



The "Cape May Goody" of the Jersey coast, so called from its great 

 abundance at Cape Island, is very rarely taken in winter, and appears 

 to be rather a summer visitor. It makes its appearance, in large num- 

 bers, at Cape May, in August; the first run being composed of quite 

 small individucds, and the larger ones succeeding these. The}^ enter 

 the creeks in crowds, and are caught there in company with the white 

 perch. When perfectly fresh they are most delicious — excelled in 

 flavor by no species on the coast. Their usual -i^e in the bay is about 

 six inches, though occasionally caught measurii „' ten. 



This species is somewhat capricious in its visits to tlie northern 

 shores; intervals of years sometimes interveii.ng between periods of 

 abundance. 



From a coincidence of one of these runs ."ind the last visit of General 

 Lafayette to America, they are known by his name about New York. 



14. Otolithus regalis, Cu\ . and Val. 



Weak Fish — Sqiieteague — Blue Fish. 



Otolithus regalis, Cuv. and Val., Hist. Nat., Poissons, V, 67. — De- 

 Kay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 71, plate viii, fig. 24. 



Young. — Back greenish, shading into yellowish silvery, with purple 

 reflections on the side. In some specimens there are indications of 

 subvertical blotches on the sides. None of the spots of the adult are 

 seen until the fish exceeds 4 inches in length. D. and C. dusky; P. V. 

 A. yellow ; Iris, silvery. Length, 4 inches. 



The adult, when first caught, in addition to the markings which are 

 retained in alcohol, presents all over a rich tint of purplish red, which 

 very soon fades out into a dull silvery. 



This species, known as blue fish at Beesley's point, weak fish at 

 New York, shecutts at Greenport, Long Island, and trout in Philadel- 

 phia and Baltimore, is the species most abundant of all those considered 

 as game by the fisherman. It makes its appearance early in the spring, 

 and leaves (or the sea late in the autumn, attaining its period of greatest 

 abundance towards the end of July. It is very easily captured with 

 almost any bait — clam, soft crab, or pieces of fish. Indeed, some of 

 the best sport I ever witnessed with this fish was had by using the 

 eyes of those already caught as bait. 



No species on the coast shows so large a count in a successful day's 

 fishing as the weak fish, it being not uncommon for a single boat of 

 three or four men to lake from 150 to 250 in an hour or two. When 



