THE TARPON, OR SILVER KING. 



BY W. N. HALDEMAN. 



THE Tarpon has been technically described as Mc galops 

 Atlanticus and Megalops Thrissoides, the latter being 

 used in the excellent compilation known as "The Fisher- 

 ies and Fishery Industries of the United States," issued by the 

 United States Fish Commission. The Tarpon is therein called 

 Tarpum, and classed under "families related to the Clupeidtz." 

 In this connection, it may be stated that comparatively little 

 is known of the habits of the Tarpon. A search through the 

 Encyclopedia Britannica, or other authorities, will make this 

 fact patent. The authority above quoted is the best with 

 which I am acquainted. It says: "An immense, herring-like 

 fish, which occurs in the Western Atlantic and in the Gulf of 

 Mexico, ranging north to Cape Cod and south at least to 

 Western Brazil. It is somewhat abundant in the West Indies, 

 and stragglers have been taken as far to the eastward as the 

 Bermudas. The sailors' name for this fish, by which name it 

 is also known at Key West, Bermuda, Brunswick, Georgia, 

 and elsewhere, is "Tarpum," or "Tarpon." It is the "Silver 

 Fish" of Pensacola, the "Grand Ecaille" (large scale fish), or 

 "Grandykye," as it is pronounced and sometimes spelled, 

 and the "Savanilla" of Texas. 



Mr. Stearns contributes the following notes upon the fish 

 as observed by him: "The Silver Fish, or Grande Ecaille, is 

 common everywhere on the gulf coast. It is an immense 

 and active fish, preying eagerly upon schools of young fry, or 



in 



