CHAPTER Vin. 



Thk Deum. — The Hogfish, or Pigfish. — The Sailor's Choice. 



Drum. — Pogonias chromis — (Linn). — Fishermen believe that 

 there are two speci e.s of drum on the Florida coast, one large and 

 light colored, weighing up to seven ty-tive or eighty pounds, the 

 other dark colored and smaller, weighing from three pounds to ten, 

 the larger being much the better fish. Professors Jordan and 

 Gilbert only describe one species, so that the smaller is proba- 

 bly the young fish. We find these latter associating with the 

 sheepshead, which they much resemble in appearance and habits, 

 feed on the same moUusks, and are taken with the same bait. The 

 large ones, say from twenty to forty pounds weight, appear in April 

 or May in large schools in the bays and rivers, announcing their 

 presence by the peculiar grunting or drumming noise which they 

 make under the water, which can be heard a long distance, though 

 it is difficult to locate the sound. These big drum are taken withi 

 strong hand lines, usually at night, with a whole crab upon the 

 hook. Of course a fish of forty pounds can make a strong resistance. 

 It is a dead pull between fisherman and fish. In St. Augustine the 

 large drum is considered a good fish, and sells well. Where fish 

 are more abundant and various, as at Halifax or Indian River Inlets, 

 no one eats drum. To my taste, the flesh is rather coarse, but of 

 good flavor. The smaller ones, which are often taken while rod 

 fishing, make a strong fight, similar to a sheepshead, surging to the 



