GAME FISH OF FLORIDA. 53 



anglers to kill a hundred in a day. We used generally 

 to fill a two-bushel bag, hanging over the boat s side in 

 the water, so as to bring the fish home alive, and then 

 put them in a car anchored in the creek in front of 

 the hotel. 



RED-FISH, OR CHAXXEL BASS (Corvina ocellata). Cu- 

 VIER. This is a very common and numerous species on 

 the Florida coasts, and is a fish much resembling in habits 

 its congener, the striped bass of more northern waters. 

 It is taken with similar baits, such as shrimp, crab, or a 

 piece of mullet ; it fights long and hard on the hook, 

 and in the proper season is an excellent table fish, boiled, 

 cut in steaks, and broiled, or even fried. I consider it, 

 after the month of March, to be equal to the striped 

 bass. In the fall and winter the red-fish is lean and 

 without flavor, but improves in March, and in January 

 it is the best of the coast fishes, as well as the most 

 abundant. At that season it swarms in the river mouths 

 and sounds, and can be taken with almost any bait. It 

 is also found of large size in the surf on the sea-beaches, 

 and can be readily taken by casting a baited hook with 

 a hand line from the shore. 



Xorris represents the red-fish as &quot; stringy, and lack 

 ing flavor,&quot; while Herbert calls it excellent. Both are 

 right, since its quality varies with the season. Mr. 

 Norris, quoting Holbrook, describes the red-fish as of a 

 beautiful silvery color, and iridescent when taken from 

 the water, adding that in the Gulf they are invariably 

 red. I have found that specimens under seven or eight 

 pounds weight have the back of a steel-blue, sides golden, 

 and belly white the larger fish are of a brilliant golden 

 red on back and sides. All have the black spot near the 

 tail, from which the specific name is derived. Some- 



