Common Pompano 



the fishes of Indian River, the pompano is the most valued and 

 brings the best price to fishermen and dealers. It is present there 

 throughout the year, being most abundant in winter. The best 

 fishing seems to be from late January to April. They are most 

 abundant about the inlets, and play in and out with the tide. 

 They run in bunches or schools, and are easily influenced by 

 changes in temperature. They are a warm-water fish, and a 

 cold snap causes them to leave the river temporarily. The un- 

 usual cold of December, 1894, and February, 1895, affected them 

 quite seriously, not only driving them away, but actually killing 

 many. The pompano does not appear to be properly a migra- 

 tory fish, and when it leaves Indian River it probably does not 

 wander far from the inlets. In summer, however, when the 

 water is warm, many young and some adults are apt to wander 

 north on our coasts at least to Woods Hole. Very little is defi- 

 nitely known regarding the spawning habits of the pompano. 

 On the east coast of Florida they probably spawn in Indian River 

 chiefly in April and May. The food of this fish consists princi- 

 pally of small bivalve mollusks and small crustaceans. They feed 

 extensively about the inlets and in the surf outside. They are 

 often seen rooting or digging for food in the sand or mud, their 

 caudal fins sometimes appearing above the water. 



The pompano is less abundant about Key West, but from a 

 little further north on the Gulf Coast to the mouth of the Mis- 

 sissippi it is a common fish, large quantities being brought to 

 the markets of Tampa and Pensacola. On the west side of the 

 Gulf it appears to be uncommon. About Pensacola it seems to 

 be a migratory fish, but southward it is probably not so. 



The pompano reaches a length of about 18 inches and a 

 weight of 7 or 8 pounds, though examples of more than 2 or 

 3 pounds are not now often seen. 



As a food-fish there is none better than the pompano, either 

 in the fresh waters or in the seas. This is practically the 

 unanimous verdict of epicures and all others who have had the plea- 

 sure of eating the pompano, fresh from the water. The flesh is 

 firm and rich, and possesses a delicacy of flavour peculiarly pleas- 

 ing to the palate. 



The pompano is not a game-fish. "It is mullet-mouthed 

 and never takes a hook except by a mistake," says Genio Scott; 

 but Mr. S. C. Clarke says they have been known to bite at a 



3*8 



