GAME FISH OF FLORIDA. 61 



pound to six pounds. It is a very valuable fish to the 

 inhabitants, since it takes salt better than any other 

 southern species, being equal to the mackerel in that 

 respect. It also furnishes a valuable food in its spawn, 

 which is salted and smoked. It is also used extensively 

 as bait for most other fishes. The mullet appears to 

 subsist upon the minute animals found in the mud, 

 with which substance its stomach and intestines are 

 usually found to be filled. Eaten fresh, the mullet 

 affords a rich and savory food. 



SALT-WATER CATFISH (Galeiclitliys marinus). Cu- 

 TIER. Much resembles the fresh-water catfish, but is 

 a handsomer fish, both in form and color. It has the 

 barbels dependent from the mouth, and strong spines in 

 the pectoral and dorsal fins, capable of inflicting painful 

 wounds upon careless hands. As to its value as an 

 edible species, I cannot say ; they are numerous, and 

 greedy biters, but are generally thrown away, or left for 

 the coons and buzzards. Size in the Indian river, ten 

 or twelve pounds. 



SHARKS AKD THEIR COXGEXERS. Sharks are very 

 numerous in these waters, from six to nine feet long 

 probably the mackerel shark, Lamna punctata Storer. 

 There is a species here called the nurse shark, Somni- 

 osus boeirpinna, De S., which is sometimes taken with a 

 hook ; it is about five or six feet long, and its teeth are 

 very small. 



Other members of this family are the garfish, angel 

 fish, rays, skates, etc. The garfish, Pristis antiquorum 

 (Dekay), is shark-like in form, with a cruel weapon pro 

 jecting from its snout one-third the length of its body. 

 This is studded with sharp spines on either side, and is 

 used to kill other fishes. The sawfish has a large 



