THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 339 



they might, though comparatively small, be eaten more frequently than 

 they appear to be. 



The silver-side, or sand-smelt, as it is called further east, makes an 

 excellent bait for blue fish, weak fish, and, in fact, almost any other 

 species. It must constitute the chief article of food for the larger fish 

 on our coast, as it is found everywhere, even far up the mouths of 

 rivers. It was very abundant at Sing Sing. In fact, I have seldom 

 drawn a net anywhere in salt water or brackish without seeing it. 

 It is a constant associate of the cyprinodonts in the salt ponds and 

 meadows. It bites readily at a hook, although very seldom swallowing 

 the bait owing to the smallness of its mouth. 



29. MuGiL ALBULA, Linn. 



The White Mullet. 



Mugil albula, L. — DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 146. 



Back dark bluish black ; sides lustrous silvery ; beneath opaque 

 white ; a dark bluish black spot on the body, at the base of the pectoral 

 fin ; iris silvery, with a yellowish tinge above, as also on the opercu- 

 lum; D. and C. dark bluish on the membrane, especially towards the 

 extremities ; P. less strongly marked in the sam^i manner ; V. and A. 

 opaque white, the latter with a lew brown dots on the rays. Length 

 4^ inches. 



Although small mullets were caught in considerable numbers in the 

 creeks and about the inlets, none of large size were seen. The larger 

 ones do not arrive until September, when they are said to be abundant. 

 They then come close to shore among the grass, and run up the creeks 

 in numbers, even where the water is shallow. When intercepted in a 

 seine they leap over the upper edge with great readiness, one ibllowing 

 the other, like a flock of shep. Their maximum size is from eight to 

 ten inches. 



This fish becomes extremely fat, so much so as to require no grease 

 in frying. The flesh is said to be very palatable, though rather rich. 

 The large mullets do not remain long in the bay, generally returning 

 to the sea in the fall. A few, however, are said to remain all winter in 

 the salt ponds. 



30. GOBIUS ALEPIDOTUS, BoSC. 



TJie variegated Goby. 



Gobius alejudotus, Bosc. — DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 160, 



plate xxiii, fig. 70. 



Translucent olive green, with seven or eight vertical lines of lighter 

 along the side; vertical fins, mottled with dusky spots, arranged in 

 series transverse to the rays. Length one inch. 



A few specimens only of this rare fish were taken in the grass along 

 the beach of the river. 



