64 WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW TO CATCH FISH 



While on the subject of Runners I will make a few feeble remarks. 

 It seems to me the Runners are hybrids from the Crevalle and Bluefish 

 species or families, as they certainly resemble both of those fishes. 



At first glance when I have caught one he always looks like a 

 Bluefish, but after examination resembles the Crevalle, and for this 

 reason is called a "Jack" by the people where he is caught. 

 I believe that every time I have visited the Keys I have caught one 

 or more varieties which were new to me. 



Jordan & Evermann, in Bulletin 47, 1900, give eighteen species; 

 Jordan & Gilbert, Bulletin 16, 1883, give none under the name 

 " Runners," but put in seven under their heading of " Crevalles." As 

 the family seems to be increasing in variety they must propagate their 

 own species and also must intermix with other fishes, notably with the 

 Bluefish, Crevalle, and Pompano, from whom they probably sprang. 



The Catfishes, Sharks, Carps, Suckers, Groupers, Parrot fishes, etc., 

 etc., are largely increased. 



I know there were formerly people who denied the Darwinian 

 theory of the origin, differentation, and evolution of species, using as 

 their argument the statement that hybrids do not propagate their own 

 species, and stood pat on our humble and hard-working friend, the 

 mule, as the only instance they could cite in support of their conten- 

 tion. They were undoubtedly correct in that one citation ; but if 

 any people of that way of thinking are left in the country, I would 

 advise them to visit the Keys of Florida and study the fishes a little, 

 and they will be convinced the fishes violate their rules and explode 

 their theory. Another thought occurs to me, which is that the ichthy- 

 ologists are to have a hard time in keeping up with the fishes. Jor- 

 dan & Gilbert (1883) classified 1,340 species, and Jordan & Ever- 

 mann (1900) classified 3,263 species, thus showing an increase of 

 1,923 species during seventeen years. 



This large increase of about 150 per cent, is partly due, of course, 

 to a closer investigation, and addition of some territory not investi- 

 gated by J. & G., but a larger proportion is probably due to finer 

 lines of distinction having been drawn by J. & E. Where the first 

 party has described and classified, say, ten, more or less, in a family, 

 it seems as though the latter has, with the same fishes, doubled or 

 trebled the number, by finer distinctions. 



Still, after all the above is admitted and accepted as true, there 

 has undoubtedly been a large actual increase in species. 



