SOUTHERN COAST FISHES. 395 



lateral line, marked with numerous irregular dusky blotches. 

 Length twelve inches. Taken with rod and reel, with mullet bait, 

 fly or troll, in Florida and other southern States chiefly with bait. 

 Its range extends to Massachusetts. It belongs to the same genus 

 as the C. carolinensis (called salmon trout, spotted sea trout, and 

 spotted silver sides), but differs considerably in color and markings. 

 Both fish are caught together with the same bait. It lives always 

 in salt water, never ascending fresh streams, and feeds on smaller 

 fish and shrimp. Shrimp is an excellent bait. It is most abun- 

 dant and of the largest size in the autumn months. Spawns in 

 July and August in rivers at tide water. Holbrook mentions two 

 other varieties known in South Carolina waters, one, C. thalass- 

 mus, body dusky, with a greenish tint above. Sides and belly yel- 

 low. Known as the deep sea trout — found only in the ocean at a 

 depth of twenty fathoms and never approaching land ; the other 

 C. 7ioihus, or Bastard Trout. Head and body silvery white or but 

 slightly shaded above ; length twelve inches ; an uncommon va- 

 riety. [See Weakfish in Northern Coast Fishes.] 



KiNGFiSH ; whiting. — Menticirrus nebulosus. Gill. 



Body silvery, marked by several oblique dusky bars. Length 

 sixteen inches. The whiting remains all the year round. It 

 spawns in May in the ocean. In spring and summer very abun- 

 dant, and are taken near the bottom in the mouths of rivers and 

 bays with hook baited with shrimp, clam, crab, or mullet. They 

 prefer deep and running waters, and afford excellent sport to the 

 angler. This fish is peculiar to southern waters, and is a different 

 fish from the northern variety. [See Eastern Coast Fishes.] 



Drum. —Po^-onms chromis. Lacep. 



The drumfish is very common all along the Atlantic coast, 

 from New Jersey to Florida, and is much esteemed. In the spawn- 

 ing season in March and April, it is taken verj' abundantly with 

 prawns for bait, which appear at that period. Body is of a dull 

 silvery or lead color, often with a coppery tint. It lives on mollus- 

 cous and crustaceous animals, which it crushes easily with its 

 immense round teeth. In the spawning season it enters the bays 

 and salt water inlets, and is constantly heard drumming. This 



