Pompon 



Pompon 



Anisotremus surinamensis (Bloch) 



The pompon is found from southern Florida and Mobile to Brazil. 

 It has been taken by us in Indian River and Porto Rico, and is known 

 also from the Tortugas, Cuba, Jamaica, Martinique, and Surinam. It 

 reaches a length of 2 or 3 feet, and is a good food-fish. 



Colour, grayish, darkest on anterior half of body, where each scale 

 is dark brown on its basal half, followed by a white ellipse and a nar- 

 row darker border; upper edge of caudal peduncle brown, sides nearly 

 plain whitish; snout and under parts of head lilac-brown; under parts 

 of body rusty brown ; fins all brownish, especially soft dorsal and anal. 



Pork-fish; Sisi 



Anisotremus virginicus (Linnaeus) 



A very handsome fish ranging from Florida to Brazil; known 

 from Biscayne Bay, Key West, Santo Domingo, Jamaica, Porto Rico, 

 Martinique, and St. Catharine Island. About Key West it is said to 

 school from June to August, which is its spawning season. It is then 

 found about shoals, but soon retires to deeper water. It spawns in 

 the channels among the shoals, where it is caught in great numbers, 

 chiefly in traps and with hook and line. About a month after spawn- 

 ing-time immense numbers of young are said to be found about the 

 shoals. 



The species reaches a length of about a foot and a weight of 2 

 pounds, but those brought to market do not average more than \ of a 

 pound. In Porto Rico, where it is called sisi, it is not common. It is 

 everywhere regarded as an excellent pan-fish. 



Colour in life, side with about 8 broad lemon-yellow longitudinal 

 bars, alternating with similar bars of dirty silvery, the upper 3 or 4 of 

 the yellow lines branching anteriorly, the fifth extending on middle of 

 caudal peduncle; belly silvery white; a broad black bar from origin 

 of spinous dorsal to base of pectoral, continuing on shoulder-girdle to 

 near isthmus; another broad black band from occiput through eye to 

 angle of mouth; cheek metallic or brassy green; top of head brassy; 



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