326 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



for Black Bass in Spruce Brook, a tributary of the Halifax. 

 These were of small size, about two pounds, and were taken 

 with a spoon; and it is said that they can be taken with a 

 fly. It is a roving fish, and is taken on the same grounds as 

 the Bass, preferring, however, tide-ways and rapid currents; 

 the same tackle will serve that is made for Bass. In the 

 Halifax River it is not abundant. One seldom takes more 

 than four or five in a day's fishing. On the Gulf coast it 

 would seem to be plenty, as "Al Fresco" writes of taking 383 

 pounds of them in one forenoon. Cut-Mullet is the usual bait, 

 though no doubt live minnows would prove more attract- 

 ive — probably also to Sharks, which abound in these waters, 

 and take away the angler's tackle, and his fish also. One 

 great pleasure in angling in these waters is the variety of 

 fishes encountered; you never can tell whether your next fish 

 will weigh one pound or twenty. 



JORDAN AND GILBERT'S DESCRIPTION. 



Spotted Sea-trout. — Cynoscion mactilatum (Mitchell, Gill). 

 Bright silvery, darker above; back posteriorly with numerous 

 round black spots as large as the pupil; both dorsal and caudal 

 fins marked with similar somewhat smaller spots, much as in 

 a Trout and dusky maxillary reaching to posterior edge of 

 eye; canines moderate. Longest dorsal spine not quite half 

 the length of the head; pectorals short, not reaching tips of 

 ventrals, not half-length of head; caudal lunate. Head 3)^, 

 depth 5, eye large, about six-inch head. D. X. I., 25; A, 

 I, 10; Lat. I, about 90. Virginia to Mexico, very abundant 

 southward." 



THE CAVALLI OR CREVALLE— CARANX HIPPUS (GUNTHER). 



I am unable to decide to which of the species of Caranx 

 that frequent our Southern coast the Cavalli belongs, but 

 probably it is C . Jiippns. It is a fish which affords good 

 sport to the angler, but is of only moderate quality on the 

 table, the flesh being somewhat oily, with black streaks, 

 like that of the Mackerel. 



In form the Cavalli is deep and compressed, with a long 



