CHAPTEE XYIII. 



THE SNAPPING MACKEREL Genii* temnodon (De Kay.) 



The snapping mackerel is a small rakish looking fish, swift in his 

 movements as an arrow, darting about in 1 schools, near and some- 

 times on the surface of the water. It is claimed by some that they 

 are the young of the bluefish, and though this assumption seems 

 substantiated by the shape, color and habits of the " snapper," yet I 

 do not believe it is an established fact. 



In form, the snapping mackerel is long, tapering and trim, much 

 like the bluefish in shape and disposition of his fins. The eye 

 is quite large and the mouth armed with teeth. In color it presents 

 every shade of metallic blue, deeper on the dorsal, lightening to 

 frosted silver on the ventral. 



The snapper makes his appearance in August and does not take 

 any lure after September. The fish gives great fun to the angler 

 and affords considerable room for skill. He can be taken only in 

 still water, and I have never caught one in a tide-way. At the top 

 of the tide is the time, giving, may be, two hours' fishing, during 

 which a hundred or more can be landed if there are many snappers 

 about. 



A lio'ht and flexible rod is required, a very smooth running reel, 

 and thin line and swivel sinker. The hook, which may be quite 

 large, is fastened to about a foot of gut and baited with shedder 

 crab, or if it is found that this is wasted too rapidly, any bait lure 



