ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. 91 



below lateral line, the rows above running backward and upward ; 

 6 rows of scales on cheek, 1 on the interopercle, 1 on subopercle, 

 and 7 on opercle ; bases of soft dorsal and anal scaly ; pores of lateral 

 line branched ; temporal region with a broad band of scales, with a 

 few scattering ones below it ; top of head, snout, and jaws naked. 

 Dorsal spines rather strong, the outline of the fin moderately convex, 

 the fourth and fifth spines longest, 24 in head, the tenth spine about 4 

 in head ; margin of soft dorsal nearly straight, the fin pointed behind ; 

 the middle rays little longer than first ray, I 1 /, length of last, 3 in 

 head ; caudal lunate, the upper lobe scarcely longer than lower, its 

 length 14 times length of middle rays, which are 1-^ in head ; margin 

 of anal strongly angulate, the middle rays reaching nearly to base of 

 caudal, 2^ length of last ray, 14 in head ; the first ray reaches about 

 to middle of last ray when the fin is depressed ; anal spines strong, 

 the second scarcely as long as third, 4 in head ; ventrals 14 in head ; 

 pectorals reaching to front of anal fin, 14 in head. Color in life, 

 deep rose-red, paler on throat ; bluish streaks along rows of scales, 

 above becoming fainter and disappearing with age ; fins brick-red ; 

 dorsal bordered with orange, with a narrow, blackish edge ; caudal 

 narrowly edged with blackish ; eye red ; a large blackish blotch above 

 lateral line and below front rays of soft dorsal in young specimens, 

 this spot disappearing with age ; axil of pectoral dusky. Length, 2 

 to i iy 2 feet." Weight, 1 pound to 30 pounds. 



Caught on reefs ten miles or more from shore. Rod and reel or 

 hand line, heavy tackle. Not exactly a sport fish. Edible, A 1. 



I do not know of a well authenticated specimen of this fish hav- 

 ing been caught in any of the inside waters, or within five miles of 

 the shore of the East Coast of Florida. The Mutton -fish and the 

 Hog-fish are sometimes supposed to be the Red Snappers, but they 

 are not similar. 



