398 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



half-dozen of them will chase each other with great ani- 

 mation, turning round and round in miniature circles. 

 A curious feature of these gambols is the excessive curva- 

 ture given to the body at such times. The fish will often 

 describe a circle, with its body almost in a similar posi- 

 tion. Then, quickly unbending, the circle will be again 

 described, but reversed, the body being bent in the op- 

 posite direction. 



It is not only the adult fish that come into the fresh 

 waters of the river and the tributary creeks. I have 

 often seen them, less than six inches in length, far up 

 Crosswicks Creek, where the water was rapid, shallow, 

 and very cold. 



On questioning the more experienced fishermen, I 

 find that a few of these silver gars are caught every year 

 during the shad-season, but that only in August are they 

 ever very abundant. Furthermore, this fact has been so 

 frequently noted, that a local name, " harvest-pike," is in 

 use in this neighborhood, based upon it. 



De Kay does not appear to have known that this fish 

 enters our rivers. At least, he refers to it only as a 

 "coast" species. Nevertheless, the fish is frequently 

 found in the Hudson, as far from the coast as Albany. 

 De Kay further says, " It is highly prized by epicures." 

 In this neighborhood, on the contrary, it is supposed to 

 be poisonous. That it is not, I know to be true ; but how 

 far it is desirable as a food-fish I do not know from ex- 

 perience. They are too pretty to catch, and please me so 

 much, as I watch them " at home," that I have no desire 

 to drag them to my domicile to see how they taste. 



Skipping the shad, for the world knows enough of it 

 already, there are a few words to be said of another of 

 the herring tribe that has become land-locked in this 



