The Grouper Family 293 



what reticulate ; fins dusky, some edged with 

 white. Its habits are similar to those of the gag, 

 just described, in whose company it is found. 

 It grows to a length of two feet or more, and 

 to ten pounds or more in weight. The remarks 

 concerning the tackle and fishing for the gag 

 apply equally as well for the scamp. 



This fish, with the gag, is sometimes taken on 

 the snapper banks by the red-snapper fishermen, 

 though it is not shipped to the northern markets 

 as it does not bear transportation so well as the 

 red-snapper, and is sold for home consumption or 

 eaten by the crews. I first saw this fish as has 

 just been related, in 1877, when it was caught by 

 a Kentucky friend, and it had very much the same 

 appearance as the gag. We then decided that 

 both fish were scamps, my friend remarking that 

 " The only difference is that this fellow seems to 

 be more of a scamp than the other one," an 

 opinion I fully indorsed. The scamp does not 

 stray so far north as the gag, being confined to 

 subtropical regions. It is regularly taken to the 

 Key West market by the commercial fisherman, 

 where it commands a ready sale, being well 

 esteemed as a food-fish. The first specimens I 

 afterward preserved were secured from this source. 



