86 WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW TO CATCH FISH 



of head, snout and jaws naked ; base of soft dorsal and anal scaly ; 

 tubes of lateral line branched. Dorsal spines rather strong, the out- 

 line of the fin gently convex, the fourth spine longest, 2j^ in head ; 

 the tenth spine 4 in head ; margin of soft dorsal rounded, the ninth 

 and tenth rays longest, 1^3 length of first, and 1-| last ray, 2^ in 

 head; caudal emarginate, the upper lobe longest, lj4 length of 

 middle rays, which are 1 ^ in head ; anal fin high, its margin 

 slightly angulate, the middle rays longest, 2 times length of last 

 ray, 2^ in head, first ray reaching almost to tip of last ray, when 

 the fin is depressed ; second anal spine as long or slightly longer 

 and stronger than third, S}( to 4 in head; ventrals 1^ in head; 

 pectorals shortish, scarcely reaching vent, li in head. Color in 

 life, very dark green above, the middle part of each scale brassy- 

 black, its edge broadly pearly whitish ; below lateral line the 

 duskiness of the middle of the scale passes into brassy, and below 

 into bright coppery, the belly and lower parts of head being more or 

 less distinctly bright coppery-red ; the lower jaw grayish ; no blue 

 stripe below eye, except in the very young ; top of head blackish- 

 olive; dorsal blackish, its margin darker and tinged with maroon-red; 

 soft dorsal dusky, anteriorly slightly edged with whitish ; caudal vio- 

 laceous or maroon black ; anal wine-color, edged with whitish ; pec- 

 torals pale flesh-color ; ventrals whitish, faintly marked with reddish. 

 Young with a blackish band from snout through eye to nape, very 

 distinct in life ; a blue streak below eye ; spinous dorsal with a dark 

 maroon-colored band along edge. Described from a specimen from 

 Key West, 11 inches in length. Fishes from deep water are much 

 redder than those taken near the shore. In no case is the caudal 

 yellowish or of any pale shade." 



J. & E. group this fish with the Mangrove Snapper. U. S. Com- 

 mission, 1896, classifies each separate. They are very closely allied, 

 but there are small differences in color and shape. Their habitat and 

 habits are exactly the same. Weight to 14 pounds ; average, 3 pounds. 

 Caught : Rod and reel, still fishing, bottom, No. 15-18 line, No. 

 4$, 5$, 6$, hooks. Occasionally one will take a troll. Bait : Craw- 

 fish, Mullet or other fish, Conch. Edible, A 1. A very game fish, 

 and my favorite to eat of all fishes. 



