The Drum Family 223 



The kingfish is a bottom feeder, and as might 

 be inferred from the character of the teeth is 

 partial to crabs, shrimps, young lobsters, and 

 mussels, but does not object to the sand-lance 

 and other small fishes, and sandworms, and is 

 found on the hard, sandy shoals where such 

 organisms abound. It visits the shores from 

 spring until November, but is more abundant in 

 the summer, when it enters the bays and rivers. 

 It is usually found in deep water, feeding along 

 the channels. Although it seems to consort a 

 good deal with the weakfish, its habits of feeding 

 are quite different from that fish. It spawns in 

 the summer, earlier or later, according to the tem- 

 perature of the water, though but little is known 

 of its breeding habits. 



Its flesh is flaky, of firm texture, and has a 

 delicious flavor when perfectly fresh, which, how- 

 ever, is lost when out of the water a short time. 

 It is of small size, usually weighing from a half 

 pound to two pounds, though occasionally reach- 

 ing five or six pounds. But although so small 

 it is justly esteemed and in great demand, the 

 smaller ones as pan-fishes, for breakfast, and the 

 larger ones for chowders, for which it is unex- 

 celled by any other fish. 



