FISHES OF TUE EAST ATLANTIC COAST. 125 



in a state of nature ; and yet ttiis abundance and scarcity of many- 

 species occurs here from year to year. Tlie rock grouper is taken 

 with mullet bait, on the ground. 



Since writing the above, I find on consulting Professor Jordan's 

 Synopsis, a species there described under the name of Rhyjyticus ma- 

 culatus, which much resembles the rock grouper. 



DESCRIPTION. 



OHve brown above, with scattered whitish spots ; below, pale slate color Back 

 regularly arched from snout to caudal fin. Mouth large, maxillary extending be- 

 yond orbit ; lower jaw longer than upper, and projecting much beyond it in closed 

 mouth. Pre-opercle with two stout spines ; opercle with three. Pectorals rather 

 large. Vertical fins high. Dorsal spines slightly connected with the soft rays. 

 Head 3 1-3 ; depth 3. D, II, 25 ; A. 15. North Carolina to the West Indies. 

 Common name, soapfish. 



PoMPANO — PoiiPEYXosE. — Tfachynotus carolinus. — (Linn. — 

 Gill.) — On the South CaroUna coast this species is called "Crevalle;" 

 in New Orleans and Mobile, potnpano or pompeynose; the same 

 ■name is given it in East Florida, and it is often confounded with the 

 previously described species, which it ranch resembles in appearance, 

 though not in habits or in quality, /fhe general form is that of the 

 <5avalli, but deeper in proportion to Its length, with a more obtuse 

 snout, a smaller mouth vith few or no teeth, color, a brilliant fro'stod 

 silver below, above dark blue, changing to green and yellow. It is 

 a bottom fish, living entirely on muUusks and Crustacea, as I believe 

 — which probably give it the delicacy and flavor which distinguisn 

 it above al) other species in the salt water. The fish which more 

 resembles the pompano in these particulars, the whitefish of the Great 

 Lakes, Corre'jonus sapidissiiUKS (Ag.), has also been found to sub- 

 sist upon Crustacea exclusively. 



The sheepshead, which lives upon similar food, has also a similar 

 richness and delicacy of flesh, though in a less degree than the pom- 

 pano, which wherever it is known, takes precedence over all other 

 food fishes of our waters. Like all other delicacies it finds its way 

 to New York, but probably loses much of its excellence on the way 

 — all fish should be eaten on the shores of their native waters. The 

 Knglish epicure crosses the Atlantic to eat the canvas-backed ducks 



