138 riSHEH OF TUL EAST ATLANTIC COAST. 



ing the fish in the slightest degree — and 1 have killed a twenty-four 

 pound salmon, fresh run from the sea. 



) Those anglers who have exhausted the pleasures of salmon fishing 

 and sigh for new worlds to conquer, may betake themselves with 

 their heaviest rods and two hundred yards of line to the Florida 

 coast in spring ; there, at the mouth of the St. John, or at Halifax or 

 Indian River Inlet they will find foemen worthy of their steel. 

 Should they succeed in killing a tarpnm, let it be stuffed and hung 

 jip as the choicest trophy in their museum. 



The brilliant scales of the tarpum are used in Florida for the man- 

 iTifacture of ornamental jewelry. The fish itself is said to be good 

 eating. 



^ Of the genus Megalops Messrs. Jordan and Gilbert write : " The 

 species are of very large size, the largest of the Clupeoid fishes, found 

 in all warm seas. The name comes from a Greek word, meaning 

 "large-eyed." 



I DESCRIPTION, 



' //. ihfissotdes — (Block and Schneider — Cunther.) — Tarpum. -Uniform brilliant sil- 

 very; back darker. Body elongate, compressed, little elevated. Head 4 in length, 

 depth 3 4-5. D. 12 , A. 20 ; Lat i, 42 ; B. 23. Dorsal filament longer than 

 head. Atlantic ocean, entering fresh water; common on our Southern coasts. 



