The Structure of Game Fishes 5 



animals are seen, as a pectoral arch, scapula, 

 clavicle, ulna, and radius. These fins are found in 

 the greatest variety from the long, slender, sabre- 

 like fin of the albacore, to the enormous webbed, 

 winglike organ of the flying-fishes, resembling a 

 true fore limb in the peculiar fish, the perioph- 

 thalmus, which uses its pectoral fins as feet to 

 hop along the muddy shores out of water, in 

 search of food. Below the pectorals we find 

 the ventral fins (81), rays, attached to the pelvic 

 bone (80), representing the hind legs of higher 

 animals, though all the bones of the limbs are not 

 present. These fins are of little if any use as 

 swimming organs, but the fish rests upon them 

 when on the bottom, and they are balancers, aid- 

 ing, as do the others, in preserving the perfect 

 equilibrium of the body while the fish poises. 

 The angler who makes a diversified catch, as is 

 often the case in Florida, will be highly edified by 

 a comparison of these fins in the different fishes, 

 suggestive of their habits and game qualities. 



We have taken a superficial glance at the 

 framework of the game fish. It is a marvellous 

 machine, built, framed, fitted, joined, provided 

 with paddles and screws to give it speed, endur- 

 ance, resisting power ; in a word, perfectly adapted 



