DRUM FISHING. 123 



times, they subsist on barnacles and oysters, sus- 

 taining themselves by a process called grubbing. 



They are a numerous family, and make annual 

 excursions along our coast from Florida as far 

 north as the harbor of ISTew York, where I have 

 heard of a few having been taken. In the month 

 of April, they abound on the sea-coast of South 

 Carolina, and great numbers penetrate our inlets 

 for the purpose of depositing their spawn. The 

 large bay or sound, known on the maps as Port 

 Royal harbor, but locally, as Broad Hiver, is their 

 chosen place of resort, and constitutes the best fish- 

 ing station. If you ask me why they give the pre- 

 ference to this particular spot, I answer you con- 

 jecturally because, while it is the deepest and 

 most capacious bay along our whole southern coast, 

 it is at the same time the saltest, there being no 

 important streams from the interior, emptying them- 

 selves into it and neutralizing the properties of the 

 sea-water. 



But many of your readers, Mr. Editor, have never 

 seen a drum-fish. It may be proper, therefore, for 

 ine to state, that it is the largest scale fish in Ame- 

 rica. It measures ordinarily three feet in length, 

 and weighs from thirty to forty pounds. It is 

 beautifully marked on the sides, by broad dark 

 transverse stripes, alternating with silver or else 



