CHAPTEli VI J. 



THE Ln>:ii n, <>it l^o ;i: Fisa. THE JEWFISH. THE TAKPUM, 

 OR TARPON. 



LADYFISH SKIP JACK BOXE FISH Albula conorhynchw 

 (Block Schneider.) My description is 'as follows of freshly caught 

 specimens : Length, one to three feet. Body, slender andcylindical. 

 Head, 1-5 the whole length ; eyes very large, iris yellow ; mouth 

 large ; teeth small; labials long and large, with fine teeth on edges. 

 Scales small. Fins all soft rayed ; dorsal high in middle of the 

 back, 18 ; pectoral 16 ; anal 10 ; tail deeply forked. Color of back, 

 dark blue ; sides and belly silvery ; head greenish. 



i T ne ladyfish, though not valuable for food, it being a mass of 

 bones and fat, like a menhaden, is so active and vigorous on the lin 

 that it affords more sport than any other species on the coast * No 

 sooner is it hooked than it begins to throw itself from the water in 

 successive and lofty leaps, then darting round and round the boat, 

 under it and over it till exhausted, or till it escapes by casting out 

 the hook, or cutting the line with its sharp labials. The mouth 

 being tender, the hook does not take a firm hold, and one-half the 

 number hooked usually escape. I know of no species which equals 

 it in activity ; even the grilse, or young salmon, makes fewer leaps, 

 and is less rapid in its play. Like the cavalli, it feeds both at the 

 bottom and on the surface, and could probably be taken with the 

 fly or spoon. It appears in the Halifax River in April in schools in 

 chase of the mullet and other small fry. 



