338 NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



They are taken in large numbers in the Potomac river as far up as 

 Acquia creek, as well as in Philadelphia, where they are called tailors. 



27. Peprilus triacanthus, Cuv. 



Harvest' Fish. 



Peprilus triacanthus, Cuv., Regne Anim. 3d ed. — Rhombus triacanthus, 

 DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 137, plate xxvi, fig. 80. 



Several specimens were taken in a net at Corson's inlet. They 

 were occasionally seen swimming slowly in small schools close to the 

 steep banks of the inlet. The flesh is said to be tolerably well flavored, 

 though less so than that of many other scomberoid species of the Jersey 

 coast. 



28. Atherinopsis notatus, Girard. 

 The Silverside — Sand-Smelt. 



Athcrinojisis notatns, Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc, Philad. VIT, 1854, 

 J 98. — Athcrina notata, Mitch. — DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 

 141, plate xxvi, fig. 88. 



This dinjinutive species may be said almost to out-number all others 

 on the coast, the cyprinodonts not excepted. It is found quite abund- 

 antly everywhere throughout Egg Hai'bor bay, though of small size; 

 but it is along the sands of the beach and about the inlets that its vast 

 schools are met with. Here they come in with the rising tide, espe- 

 cially when it flows over an extensive tract of sands bare at low water 

 or with only a few pools. At times the water will appear in a state of 

 constant agitation with the attempts of the fish to keep in the erlgc of 

 the tide as it rolls on, and bushels can be taken in a short time merely 

 with scoop-nets. Several parties, provided each with a fine meshed 

 seine of twenty or thirty feet in length, could readily fill a wagon in a 

 little while. Although no use is made of these "silver sides" on 

 our coast, except as bait, there is no doubt that, potted and prepared 

 as sarthnes and anchovies, they would be excellent. 



With the exception of Hydrargira jlavula, which is found in large 

 numbers in the same localities, few other fish are met widi in these 

 large schools of atherinas. A few scattered Cyprinodon ovinus and 

 small mullets only are to be seen. The maximum size to which the 

 atherina attains is about six inches, althougli fish of this length are 

 seldom caught in the bay. The flesh is nearly translucent and very 

 sweet ; and no preparation being required to fit them for the frying-pan, 



