Common Bluefish 



been even maintained that such is the gluttony of this fish, that 

 when the stomach becomes full the contents are disgorged and 

 then again filled! It is certain that it kills more fish than it 

 needs or can use'. The amount of food they consume or destroy 

 is incredibly great. It has been estimated at twice the weight 

 of the fish in a day, and one observer says that a bluefish will 

 destroy daily a thousand other fish. It has been estimated that 

 there are annually on our coast from New Jersey to Mononomy 

 a thousand million bluefish averaging 5 or 6 pounds each in 

 weight, and that these eat or destroy at the lowest estimate 10 

 fish each every day, or a total of ten thousand millions of fish 

 destroyed every day. And as the bluefish remain on this coast 

 at least 120 days, the total destruction amounts in round numbers 

 to twelve hundred million millions of fish destroyed in a single 

 season by this species. These would weigh at least three hun- 

 dred thousand million pounds. And it must be remembered that 

 in this estimate no account has been taken of those destroyed 

 by bluefish under 3 pounds in weight, vastly more numerous 

 and all engaged simultaneously in the same butchery. 



The average size of the bluefish caught on the Florida coast 

 is 3 to 5 pounds and. the maximum about 15 pounds. The 

 sizes on the North Atlantic Coast run about the same. The 

 largest bluefish of which we have any record weighed 22 pounds, 

 and had a length of 3 feet. 



The bluefish is one of the best of food-fishes, ranking in 

 public estimation next to the pompano and Spanish mackerel. 

 It is a standard fish in all the large markets of our eastern 

 states. The flesh is very sweet and savoury but does not keep 

 well. In some places the bluefish is not yet held in high esteem 

 but is rapidly growing in popular favour. 



The bluefish is one of the most active and unyielding fishes 

 that swim. "It can jump higher and come down quicker, dive 

 deeper, and stay under longer" than any other salt-water fish of 

 its size, says Nimrod Wildfire. "Look at his clean build, and it 

 is accounted for; his narrow waist and depth of hull, falling off 

 sharply as it approaches the keel, enabling him to keep well to 

 windward, as if he had his centre-board always down. See his 

 immense propeller behind! No fish of his size is more wicked 

 or wild when hooked. I have sometimes struck a 3-pound blue- 

 fish, and thought I had a 6-pound weakfish, until he commenced 



321 



