458 



FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



reading up to the most interesting part of an eventful story, 

 succeeds in getting the bite of a grouper! 



Both the red and black drums afford the angler great 

 sport ; but for the table the red drum is infinitely the supe- 

 rior of the two fishes, which are the most numerous in the es- 

 tuaries and bayous of Florida ; also very plenty along the 

 coast of Virginia during the month of May. They are occa- 

 sionally taken in the bays of New York in August and Sep- 

 tember. They range in weight from ten to eighty pounds ; 



THE BED DRUM. Pogonias chromis. 



and though a bottom-biting fish, when hooked they make 

 long runs, and show most generous play. They are fond of 

 mussels, clams, and oysters, while they fairly revel on soft- 



