Miscellaneous Fishes 375 



seen was at Key West ; it was fully five feet long. 

 It is not uncommon in the Chesapeake Bay, and 

 like most of the mackerel tribe it is a fairly good 

 food-fish. It spawns in summer, but its breeding 

 habits are not fully understood. 



As might be imagined from its shape and habits, 

 it is a good game-fish, and quite strong and vigor- 

 ous on the rod. It requires all of the angler's 

 skill to land it safely, especially when it is taken 

 about the mangroves, among whose arching and 

 numerous roots it is sure to take refuge if it can 

 do so. It will take a small fish bait or a crab, 

 going for it with a pikelike rush. I once took 

 one on Indian River with a large red ibis fiy, but 

 never succeeded in catching another with the 

 same lure. 



A strong, rather heavy rod is necessary for the 

 cobia, which the Key West fishermen call cobi-d. 

 A striped-bass chum rod of natural bamboo is a 

 good and serviceable tool for the work, with mul- 

 tiplying reel and braided linen line, to which is 

 afiixed a Sproat hook. No. 3-0, on gimp snell, by 

 a brass box-swivel. A sinker should not be used 

 about the mangroves. 



A fiddler-crab, a mullet, or other small fish is 

 hooked through the lips, and is cast from a boat 



