SEA TIJoIT. 1 in 



on uliicli iimcli reliance can he phici-il, as the author appears, 

 tniiii >(>me lit" his statements, to he a writer of more rashness 

 than <liseriniination, and more ready than (pialilied to fjive his 

 opinion decidedly, and without appeal. 



These cjualities are rendered sutliciently a|)parent liy his 

 indnliriu}; in a violent tiradi- a;zHinst Or. Mitehil, of New York, 

 whom he accuses of vanity and presnmi)tion, in atlixin^' his t)wn 

 name to the Striped Bass, which he, Smith, asserts to he " a 

 common tiihU' jish, kiimi'ii froin time inii/iciiioriiil nil orcr ICuro/K." 



It is 1 presunu-, at this chiy, entirely unnecessary to state 

 that l>r. Mitehil was perfectly ri^ht as to tin' distinct character 

 of the American lish. and its bcin^ uttc-rly unknown, and non- 

 existent in Kuropc ; aiul Smith is wron^ in every pos>ihle 

 particular: the tish to which he refers it, the Sea Ihiss of 

 Europe {Ltihra.v Lujnut of C'uvicr, I'crcu Lu/jrau- of Liiuneus), 

 heing altoj^cthcr a ditVerent fish, thoufxh of the same family, 

 |K'rfectly distinct hoth in habits and ap[)earance. 



Of the Sea Trout, Smith says :— 



■ 'rin'V are found, as may he iiderri-d tVom the nami-, in the 

 salt and brackish waters of tide rivers and inland l)ay>, in 

 various parts of this and tlu- adj<tinin.i,' States. Wlu-n taken 

 from the salt-water early in sprinj;, they are in hii,di perfection, 

 and nothing can exceed their piscatory symmetry. The gencnil 

 appearance of the skin is of silvery brightness, the back being 

 «»f a greenisli and maekerel complexion ; the spots of a vermilion 

 colour, mixed with others of faint yellow, and sometimes 

 slightly tinged wjtii purple, extend the whole length on cither 

 side of the lateral line; the fins are light in colour and linn in 

 texture, anil, together with the tad, are rather shorter and 



