The Kingfish 



spring with the weakfish, and is found a 

 good deal in company with it; like that 

 fish, seeming to prefer a light mixture of 

 fresh water, as shown by its keeping in the 

 mouth of rivers, and running farther up 

 during the dry season. It takes the bait 

 quite readily, although not caught in any- 

 thing like the same number in a given time 

 as the weakfish thirty or forty at a single 

 tide being considered an excellent catch for 

 one boat. The kingfish run much in 

 schools, and keep on or near a hard, sandy 

 bottom, though they prefer the edge of 

 channels and the vicinity. They bite read- 

 ily at hard or soft clams or small pieces of 

 fish, and are taken most successfully on the 

 early flood tide. They may be captured 

 about and near oyster beds, especially when 

 the oysters are being taken up, when they 

 may be seen under the boats fighting for 

 the worms and crustaceans dislodged by the 

 operation. 



The kingfish is a well-built and shapely 

 fish, high shoulders and small head, with 

 141 



