334 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



posterior margin. Extreme tips of caudal lobes of a brighter brown; 

 A. green and purplish brown, bluish towards the edge, which itself is 

 milk white. V. similar. P. transparent, tinged with dusk3% Iris 

 dark reddish brown. Lengdi, six inches. 



After death, and, indeed, most specimens when fresh caught, exhibit 

 but faint traces of the vertical bars, the sides being silvery, with longi- 

 tudinal lines of brassy yellow. Iris silvery. 



This species is caught with a hook, in water from six to twelve feet 

 deep. They feed on the bottom, and are very destructive to bait, which 

 they nibble off from the large hake and blue fish hooks in a very "short 

 time. Few exceeded six inches. 



The porgee did not make its appearance in Egg Harbor bay until 

 towards the middle of August, although said to be found at sea at an 

 earlier period. As usual, the specimens were smaller than those taken 

 outside the beach, though exhibiting the same beauty of color. Very 

 few descriptions or figures convey any idea of the variety of delicate 

 tints on this beautiful fish, which fade in a short time after death into 

 a uniform silvery hue. 



After the arrival of the porgees in the bay and mouth of the river, 

 they become very troublesome by their great numbers and the destruc- 

 tion of bait caused by their incessant nibbling. A large hook will be 

 cleaned entirely in a moment, while all efforts to catch the depredator 

 prove vam. The only way of taking them is to use a fine line, and 

 very small minnow hooks, baited with small bits of clams, fish, or other 

 food. These will be swallowed boldly, and, as they bite voraciously, 

 large numbers can be taken in a short time. It is only necessary to 

 throw the line out to its fall extent, and then at once haul it in slowly, 

 during which movement the bait will generally be seized. A single 

 clam, chopped fine, may serve to catch twenty or thirt}^ 



Quite large porgees are taken about Greenport, Long Island, in very 

 great numbers, with seines. The usual ground is on the east side of 

 Shelter island, where a fishing smack will frequently be loaded at a 

 single haul. During the months of August and September these fish 

 constitute the principal stock of those sent to the New York market over 

 the Long Island railroad. The flesh of the porgee is excellent when 

 fresh — scarcely surpassed by that of any other fish on the coast. 



Genus EUCINOSTOMUS, B. and G. 



Genus Eucmostomus, B. and G. — This genus has been established 

 to include a species of the Menid family, possessing the following 

 generic characters: Mouth small and very protractile; when protruded 

 presenting a subconico-tubular appearance ; hps thin ; palate and tongue 

 toothless ; opercular apparatus without either spines or serratures. 

 The second spine of the anal itself is less developed than in the genus 

 Gerres, a genus to which the present one bears a close affinity. 



