FISHES OF THE EAST ATLANTIC COAST. 3^7 



the gill cover are two stout flattened spines. The head and mouth 

 are small and the snout well thrown forward. The teeth in the two* 

 jaws are not alike ; in the upper jaw they are long and acute ;,in the ! 

 lower they are short and bent inward. There are two dorsal' fins ; ', 

 the first is a triangle and is remarkable for the height of the first 

 ray. The second dorsal is long and low ; the pectorals are wide '- 

 and pointed. The anal fin is composed of one spine and eighth 

 rays. The tail is curved in and then out like the letter S. 



The kingfish glows with many beautiful tints ; upon the back and 

 sides are shades of grey and silvery red : the abdomen is blueishi 

 white and the fins are of different colors. The first* dorsal fin is 

 brown ; the caudal and pectoral fins are olive brown ; the ventral 

 and anal fins are yellow. On the sides above the lateral line are 

 many dark stripes or rather bands, hence nebulosus. It is a summer 

 fish and runs in July and August, and in its wanderings it never 

 goes beyond Cape Cod. 



The kingfish, as I have said, is very rarely met with about New 

 York, but further south, at the inlet and along down to Florida they 

 are very plentiful. A light rod and multiplying reel, a strong- anctl 

 very light line, a swivel sinker and two rather small hooks ara what, 

 is required in the way of tackle; much the same rig as is used in. 

 weakfishing. The bait either shedder crab or sand- worm. The king-, 

 fish is thoroughly game ; he seizes the bait eagerly and then gofr to*, 

 the bottom, following up this movement with long runs from right to* 

 left ; it is really remarkable what a determined resistance the little 

 king-fish will make. In size he varies from one to six pounds, the 

 average being two or three pounds. The time to fish for them is, 

 when the tide is running in. Kingfish can be caught along the^ 

 south side of Long Island, off the Jersey Coast, at Atlantic City,* 

 Long Brunch and Barnegat Inlet, and f urtkftn s^ojith^ they are 

 common. 



