Giant Fish of Florida 



THE GARFISH (Belone spec.) 



The flying fish is by no means common, though probably 

 existent on that coast, but it has a relative in the garfish ; 

 and, though this does not commonly do much flying, it can 

 on occasion, as when pursued by a swift and powerful 

 enemy, throw itself clean out of the water with much energy, 

 and can propel itself for thirty yards in the air by occasionally 

 tipping the water with its tail. In this case the garfish are 

 alarmed by a kingfish that is really after a skipjack. A 

 good deal of prejudice exists against this fish at home, on 

 account of its green bones (I take this to be the same species 

 that swims in British waters), but it is first-rate eating. 

 Garfish may be found, as a rule, close in amid the surf, 

 where they hunt for small, thin-shelled sandhoppers, about 

 the size of French beans. One of these on a small hook 

 is, in fact, the best bait if any one wishes to angle specially 

 for garfish, but the long bill and the presence inside it of 

 innumerable needle-like teeth do not make the work of 

 extracting the hook particularly pleasant. 



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