354 Big Game Fishes 



or seven pronounced stripes, one of which passes 

 directly through the eye. In Florida I found this 

 fish everywhere about the large coral heads, al- 

 ways in company with angel-fishes and yellow- 

 tails, adding to the manifold attractions of these 

 submarine gardens. The most constant compan- 

 ion of this gamy creature was the black angel- 

 fish, which so far as shape is concerned closely 

 resembles it. Very large individuals attain a 

 weight of ten pounds or more, averaging much 

 smaller about the wharves and docks; yet few 

 fishes of their size present so brave a front and 

 make so desperate and sustained a fight against 

 capture. The struggles of a trout of the same 

 weight or even a black-bass fade into insignifi- 

 cance when compared to this broad gray or black 

 fish of extraordinary countenance and vivid white 

 lips. The angel-fishes proper belong to the 

 family Chaetodontidae, which includes nine or ten 

 genera or about two hundred species, mainly 

 found in tropical seas the world over, in some 

 localities being known as coral-fishes, and every- 

 where among the most gorgeous and beautiful 

 of the denizens of the ocean, their vivid coloring 

 rendered more striking by the contrast of the 

 sombre olive-hued coral. Flashing like gems in 



