CHECK-LIST OF THE FISHES OF FLORIDA. 



47 



FOOD-FISHES OF FLORIDA. 



While the waters in the vicinity of Key West are wonderfully rich 

 in species of fishes used as food, the shad does not occur there, nor does 

 the black bass nor any of the fresh- water species; nor do we find there, 

 except possibly as stragglers, the spotted sea trout, the red drum, spot, 

 whiting, x>ompon, flasher, and perhaps still other species known from 

 Indian Elver. Additional species are known from Pensacola which do 

 not occur at Key West. The total number of different species of food- 

 fish now known to occur in the waters of Florida is approximately 140, 

 divided among 3G different families, as follows: 



Centrarchidce (Sun-fishes aud Black 



Bass) 10 



CentropomidcB (Robalos) 1 



Serranidce (Sea Bass) 10 



Lohotidce (Triple-tails) 1 



Lutianidw (Snappers) 8 



Hccmulidce (Grunts) 12 



Sparida; (Porgies) 12 



Gerridce (Mojarras) 4 



Kyphosidw ( Rudder-fishes ) 1 



Sciwnidce (Croakers) 11 



Lahridce (Wrasse-fishes) 1 



ScaridcB (Parrot-fishes) 2 



Ephippidce (Angel- fishes) 1 



Chcetodontidce (Butterfly-fishes) 3 



Tetithiididce (Tangs) 3 



(Scorp^cnMa' (Rock-fishes) 1 



Plenronectidw (Flounders) 4 



Acipenaeridce (Sturgeon) 1 



Sihtridce (Cat-fishes) 4 



Catostomidw (Suckers) 2 



Cyprinidce (Minnows) 1 



Anguillidw (Eels) 1 



Elopida (Tarpons) 2 



Albulidw (Lady-fishes) 1 



ClupeidcB (Herrings) 8 



Luciida; (Pikes) 2 



Esocidcn (Needle-fishes) 2 



Hemiramphidw (Balaos) 4 



Mugilidce (Mullets) 4 



Sphyrcenidce (Barracudas) 2 



Polynemidw (Threadfins) 1 



Holocentridw (Squirrel-fishes) 1 



Scombridw (Mackerels) 4 



Trichiuridce (Cutlas-fishes) 1 



CarangidcB 14 



PomatomidcB (Blue-fish) 1 



This large number represents about one-twentieth of the entire fish 

 fauna of America north of the equator. 



THE GAME-FISHES OF FLORIDA. 



The fame of the game-fishes of the State of Florida extends through- 

 out America, aud beyond. Wherever there are anglers and rod and 

 gun clubs, the prowess of the " silver king " is known and talked about. 

 The one great hope of every angler is that he may go to Florida and 

 kill a tarpon before his fishing days are over. But while the tarpon 

 or silver king is the king of the game-fishes of this State, it is by no 

 means the only game-fish. Some of the largest black bass known have 

 been caught in Florida waters. The sunfishes are the largest of their 

 kind. The lady-fish and bone-fish are thought by many to equal their 

 relative, the tarpon, in real game qualities. Trolling for king-fish, jack, 

 crevalle, blue-fish, Spanish mackerel, and spotted sea trout, at Indian 

 Eiver, Lake Worth, Key West, or Biscayne Bay, furnishes sport of the 

 most exciting kind; while still-fishing for sheepshead and mangrove 

 snapi^ers at Indian Eiver Inlet; for chubs, porgies, pork-fish, yellow- tails, 

 snaijpers, and grunts at Key West; or for red snappers, red groupers, 

 and others of their kin on the Snapper Banks, furnishes sufficient 

 variety to please any angler, in whatever mood he maty chance to be. 



