THE GREY-MULLET AND DRUM. 343 



eating, but it will not keep — two hours in those warm 

 latitudes being sufficient to commence the work of 

 decomposition in its very delicate flesh. 



The weak-fish is brilliantly spotted over all its body, 

 and much resembles in appearance one of our own 

 trout from the river sea. It will bite freely at almost 

 any bait, and when hooked makes quite as desperate a 

 struggle for life as the red-fish. On looking into its 

 mouth, the difference between it and the English trout 

 is at once perceptible, inasmuch as from its upper jaw 

 project two long fangs, resembling the incisors of a 

 squirrel. 



The G-rey-Mullet is very good eating, and tolerable 

 sport. How many millions of these fish there are in 

 the Gulf of Mexico it is impossible to guess, but I 

 know that by rowing gently at night T\dth a lighted 

 torch in the bow of the boat, they may be attracted in 

 a short time in such numbers as to put the skiff in 

 danger of being swamped. No moth was ever more 

 readily drawn towards a candle, than are these fish 

 towards a light upon a dark night. Flounders are 

 very plentiful, and are splendid eating. 



The Drum is a large fish, of the carp species, weighing 

 sometimes fifty pounds; but it is seldom eaten, being 

 very coarse and unsavoury. They are hungry gluttons, 

 devouring every kind of bait with eagerness, though, 

 when hooked, their temper at once changes, and they 

 can be hauled through the water like logs. I once 



