454 FISHING IN AMEEICAN WATERS. 



sport to rod and reel, or with the troll, biting readily at & 

 silver or pearl squid, or to a hook baited with a piece OL 

 mullet or porgee. 



The color of this fish is vermilion on the back and a light- 

 er tint of red as it approaches the abdomen, which is a light 

 pink. The eyes are red, with black pupil. Its average 

 weight is about twelve pounds, though it attains to very 

 great weight some say one hundred pounds. Its meat is 

 creamy white, flaky, and juicy ; and by many is supposed to 

 be the best dinner fish of the coast. 



The red snapper is found in greatest numbers in the bays 

 of the Bahama Banks and the Gulf of Mexico and the Flori- 

 das ; but it is taken throughout the western archipelago. It 

 spawns in the spring season, and, like the striped bass and 

 others of that genus^ it requires from one to two months to 

 lay its eggs. 



This fish belongs to the same genus as the black snapper, 



which my learned friend C thinks may belong to the 



Wrasse family, though I believe it is one of the bass or 

 mackerel tribes. It is quite certain that it is an excellent 

 commercial and game fish, affording capital sport, and I 

 leave the rest to the " scientists." 



LONG-BARRED MULLKT. 



The long -barred mullet is an excellent trolling bait for 

 these waters, and the manner of mounting it upon hooks- tied 

 on wire-gimp snells, with a loop to attach to a swivel and 

 gimp leader, forms the best spinning tackle wherewith to 

 troll with rod and reel, or to angle in a swift current on the 

 bay-rivers of Florida ; but the hooks should be of heavier 

 wire than those represented. 



