288 Bass, Pike, and Perch 



a number. It was first described by Goode and 

 Bean, in 1879, from West Florida; they named 

 it microlepis, or " small scale," as its scales are 

 of less size than the other species of the same 

 genus. It is known only from the South 

 Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico, from 

 North Carolina south to Pensacola. 



It has a rather long, shapely body, with pointed 

 head and an evenly curved profile. Its mouth 

 is large, with projecting lower jaw. Both jaws 

 are armed with narrow bands of sharp teeth and 

 two canines, the upper ones directed forward. 

 The predominating hue of the gag is brownish 

 or brownish gray, with lighter sides, in deep- 

 water specimens ; those of shallow water, espe- 

 cially in grassy situations, are greenish or oliva- 

 ceous, mottled with a darker shade, and more or 

 less clouded. Very small and indistinct dusky 

 spots sometimes cover the entire body, and a 

 faint mustache is usually present. The dorsal 

 fin is olive ; the top of the soft dorsal fin rays 

 is darker, with white eds^e ; the caudal fin is 

 bluish black, with white edge. It is a voracious 

 fish-, feeding on small fishes and crustaceans, and 

 grows to a large size ; twenty or thirty, or even 

 fifty, pounds in weight is not uncommon, though 



