460 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATEES. 



THE POMPANO. Trachynotus Carolinus. 



CHAPTER III. 

 SECTION FIRST. 



THIS excellent broiler is an equally good boiler ; for, ac- 

 cording to Mr. C , " its bones boil soft." It is a delicious, 



creamy luxury, melting in the mouth, and without any for- 

 eign taste, it being the best possible in itself. It is mullet- 

 mouthed ; never takes a bait except by mistake. It is caught 

 by nets set in the night-time. It is supposed to spawn in 

 spring-time, each pair of fishes producing a shoal of fifty 

 thousand or more; but as it does not become abundant, 

 not a market ever having been known to be glutted with it, 

 tithes of each shoal must go to satisfy the capacious maws 

 of the dolphin and numerous shoals of rapacious food-fishes, 

 which get partly paid for it when they undertake to swal- 

 low a squid or bait with a hook in it. 



The weight of the pompano is from half to a pound and a 

 half. There are three movable spikes at front of the dorsal, 

 being its only protection, except that it is a swift swimmer, 

 and can lie closely hidden against the rocky bottom. Its 

 infinitesimal scales radiate the light, and when alive it is a 

 sparkling gem. In tints the pompano is decked with all the 

 colors of the rainbow, blended so as to sparkle, and form of 

 it a gem of superior brilliancy and beauty. 



