THE YOUNG DAKKIES' DKEAD. 455 



The kingfish of the West Indies is numerous along the 

 southern shores of the Caribbean Sea, around the islands of 

 steep shores and deep waters of the West Indies, and in the 



THE KINGFISH. CyUum regale. 



Gulf of Mexico. It is also found in the bays off the Florida 

 shores. It is one of the swiftest fishes, more active than the 

 dolphin, and does not wait for the flying-fish to alight on the 

 wave, but leaps high above it and takes his prey on the wing. 

 He is a terror to young Indians, who dare not bathe when 

 naked, for fear of losing a finger or toe, while occasionally one 

 perdres son vie by those steel jaws arid teeth, which are as sharp 

 as a surgeon's knife, and clip off a digit quicker than a flash. 



The color of the kingfish is dark blue above the lateral 

 line, and lightens toward the belly, where it is a light gray. 

 The first dorsal is spike-rayed, while the first ray of the sec- 

 ond dorsal and top of pectoral fin are each guarded by a spi- 

 nous ray. Like the Spanish mackerel and bonetta, the tail 

 is framed at top and bottom by a rigid bone frame, so that 

 it never falls together, but, to make up for the otherwise 

 want of balance support, there is a short row of fins on each 

 side, extending from the root of the tail three to four inches 

 up the side. The back fins and upper part of caudal are 

 black, and the others gray. Covered throughout, except 

 the top of its head, with infinitesimal scales on a tough skin, 

 it presents the appearance, when first captured, of burnished 

 steel. It ranges in weight from eight to forty pounds, and 

 its sweet and juicy meat renders it a great delicacy, whether 

 boiled, broiled, or formed into chowder. 



This fish will take a hook disguised by white or red cloth, 



