THE BOOK ABOUT THE SEA GARDENS 



many particulars. Its teeth are almost triangular 

 and are very formidable; as with many other of 

 the sea creatures, they are likely to grow in the 

 roof of its mouth as well as along the edge of the 

 jaws. The barracuda is a fighting fish, and is 

 more to be feared by bathers than any shark, for 

 it will attack anything, though accidents very sel- 

 dom occur. A fierce and powerful specimen, how- 

 ever, when seven or eight feet long, demands 

 something stronger than silk and fine-drawn gut 

 to accomplish his downfall. Four feet is an aver- 

 age length for the angler's barracuda, and that is 

 long enough to occupy him with rod and line for 

 some time. His pride does not begin to awaken to 

 boasting point, though, until he has landed the 

 kingfish, petro, dolphin, albicore, or bonita, all of 

 which may be found in Nassau waters. These, 

 however, hardly belong to the scope of the pres- 

 ent book, for though a stray specimen may occa- 

 sionally be met with in the Sea Gardens or around 

 the neighbouring reefs, they cannot be said to be a 

 likely sight at all. 



Deep in holes and lying very still against the 

 rocks may sometimes be seen the glassy-eyed 

 snapper, a fair sized crimson fish with white 

 markings and very sinister blue eyes. Another 

 variety is grey, if the two are not identical; 

 both are called rockfish by natives, who assert 

 that they never bite at any bait during the 



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