ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. 



43 



similar to soft dorsal, but less concave ; pectoral reaching nearly to 

 front of spinous dorsal, its insertion above axis of body ; caudal 

 deeply forked. Color dark bluish above ; sides silvery, with con- 

 spicuous dark stripes along each row of scales ; pale yellowish below ; 

 ventrals yellowish, the other fins more or less dusky. Length, 1 to 

 2 feet." 





'v\- 





:<v 





38. "MUGIL CUREMA." 



Illustration. Page. 



344 



813 



Mullet ; 



White Mullet ; 



Blue-back Mullet 



Liza; 



Lisa Blanca ; 



Silver Mullet. 



Mullets are used by sportsmen as bait, and 

 are caught by the guides with cast nets. Are 

 used alive and cut, according to needs. Nearly 

 all fish will, at times, take them. Edible, C ; 

 but the large Roe Mullet will rank B. 



Before leaving the Mullet question I wish to 

 tell some stories about them, which are true, even if they are fish 

 stories. 



I have often heard the statement that the Mullet crop in Florida 

 is as important to the inhabitants of the State as the corn crop is to 

 the inhabitants of Illinois, Iowa, and some other Western States. 



The statement may not be strictly true, but the crop certainly 

 furnishes employment and food to a great many men and their families. 

 Taken in connection with "Grits," called in the North (usually) 

 hominy or fine hominy, they are in some cases quite a portion, and 

 sometimes all, of the food, in some seasons of the year, of many of 

 the colored population. Grits is one of the cheapest foods in the 

 world, very seldom reaching in Florida more than two and a half 

 cents per pound at retail. 



