THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 331 



captured on the coast. It looses its rigidity soon after being taken, 

 becoming soft and flabby. It can hardly be used whole a few hours 

 out of the water, and is usually served up cut into short pieces. The 

 flesh, when cooked, is somewhat gelatinous and translucent, very dif- 

 ferent from the snowy opacity of that of the king flsh. 



As usual, the fish of this species taken outside in the surf, either 

 with the line or by hauling the net, are much larger than the common 

 run of those in the bay and rivers. The largest 1 have ever seen 

 weighed about five pounds, though they are said greatly to exceed this 

 occasionally. 



When taken, this species makes a peculiar croaking, somewhat like 

 that of Prionotus. This is s^id at times to be heard above water when 

 the fish is at the bottom.' 



15. Cor VINA argyroleuca, Cuv. and Val. 



The Silver Perch. 



Corvina argyroleuca, Cuv. and Val., Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 105. — 

 DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 74, plate xviii, fig. 51. 



A single specimen only of the adult fish was taken during my stay 

 at Beesley's point. It was caught in the bay by Captain Townsend 

 Stites, and seemed to be unknown to the fishermen. 



The young, however, were very abundant in the grass along the 

 edge of the river, of various sizes, not exceeding three inches. The}'' 

 had no markings of any kind, tlie sides being of a uniform j^ellowish 

 white. 



It is not unfrequently brought to market in New York, where it is 

 knov/n as silver perch. 



16. Umbrina alburnus, Cuv. and Val. 



The King-Fish. 



Umbrina alburnus., Cuv. and Val. — DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 



78, plate vii, fig. 20. 



This species is known at Beesley's point as the hake, a name derived 

 probably from its possessing one barbel at the chin, in common with 

 the Phycis americana, which bears the same appellation with more pro- 

 priety. About New York it is called king-fish, and its congener at the 

 south is known as whiting. Everywhere it bears the deserved reputa- 

 tion of being one of the finest fish caught, the sheepshead {Sargus ovis) 

 scarcely excepted. Of Jate years this fish appears to have become 

 (juite rare about New York, but they are still abundant on the Jersey 

 coast. At Beesley's point they come next in the cT)unt of a day's 



