LAFAYETTE OR SPOT 



THE name Lafayette was given it by 

 the New York fishermen in conse- 

 quence of its reappearance in large 

 numbers in that region having been coin- 

 cident with the arrival of Lafayette in this 

 country in 1824. It had been known be- 

 fore that time, but only in scattering num- 

 bers. Dr. Tarleton Bean says that the 

 name spot is derived from the presence of 

 a dark blotch about as big as the eye near 

 the root of the pectoral fin. 



Other names of this species are, goody, 

 old wife, roach and chub. The spot 

 swarms on the Eastern coast during the 

 hot months of July and August, and is 

 caught as late as September. It is a small 

 fish, rarely exceeding ten inches in length 

 or a pound in weight; but for its size it 

 is game to the last, and puts up a fight 

 to shame much larger fish. It is one 

 129 



