312 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



landed with a hand-line. It is a trial of strength between 

 the man and his tackle and the fish — the latter, if of large 

 size, often breaking loose, or gaining its hole under the roots 

 from whence it cannot easily be dislodged, the result being 

 the loss of tackle and patience. The rod-fisher loses more 

 than half the Groupers he hooks. I have never been able to 

 kill, on a rod, a Grouper over five pounds. Other rod-fishers 

 have perhaps been more fortunate or skillful. As is well 

 known to anglers, the first rush of a strong and heavy fish 

 cannot safely be resisted, and the Grouper makes only one. 

 If he would fight in open water, like the Bass, he could be 

 tired out; but he takes all the advantage, and one seldom 

 gets more than two or three in a day. 



The flesh of the Grouper is rich and well-flavored, and is 

 highly prized, perhaps partly on account of the scarcity of 

 the fish, and difficulty of its capture. To my taste it much 

 resembles that of the Red Bass, when in good condition. 



JORDAN AND GILBERT'S DESCRIPTION. 



Red Grouper — Epinephclus morio (Cuv., Gill), brownish, mar- 

 bled with ash; Salmon-color below; soft parts of the vertical 

 fins margined with blue. Body oval, compressed above; profile 

 oblique, gently curved; mouth terminal, large, somewhat 

 oblique; maxillary reaching beyond eye; eye about as long as 

 snout. Head 2>4; depth 3, D. XI, 17; A. Ill, 9; Lat. I 

 106; caeca 28. Atlantic Coast, chiefly southward. 



THE MANGROVE SNAPPER LUTJANUS AURORUBENS (CUV. , GILL). 



Professor Jordan's description suits our South Florida fish, 

 except as to canine, in which respect our fish resembles 

 L. caxi's, which has canines in the upper jaw. The 

 generic name, according to Jordan and Gilbert, comes from 

 "Lutjany," the Japanese name of some of the species 

 which are numerous in tropical seas. I find the name 

 "Mangrove Snapper " in Roman's list, and it is signifi- 

 cant, as this species lives in holes among the roots of 

 that tree. Jordan places it in the same genus with the Red 



