330 Big Game Fishes 



only in October and November. The fish spawns 

 in April and May in these localities. On the 

 outer keys spawning fish were found in the 

 shallow lagoon east of Long Key in the latter 

 part of February and the first weeks in March, 

 and shortly after the young fish were seen, 

 while several weeks later a seine hauled about 

 the old mangrove roots would contain great 

 quantities of young, easily recognized by the 

 black stripes or bands. 



The average fish I caught on the reef weighed 

 from seven to twelve and eighteen pounds, while 

 individuals weighing twenty pounds were fre- 

 quently taken. Among New York fishermen 

 stories of extraordinarily large sheepshead are 

 often reported, but individuals weighing fifteen 

 pounds are considered large catches. It is mar- 

 vellous how a fish will shrink and shrivel when 

 subjected to the deadly scales that have not been 

 encouraged to make the most of things. I once 

 saw a sheepshead which had been caught over 

 an old wreck, near Asbury Park, which was 

 hailed as the record; but it appeared later that 

 the fish was "in ballast/' having been made a 

 repository for all the lead sinkers of the party. 



The sheepshead is trapped and seined, taken with 



