112 WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW TO CATCH FISH 



Illustration. Page. 



107. "PAGRUS PAGRUS." 551 1356 



Red Porgy; " D - XI > 12 > or XII > n or 10 J A. Ill, 8; 



Besugo ; scales 6 (9) -53 to 56-13. Body oblong, the 



Pargo Colorado, back moderately elevated, the profile parabolic ; 

 preorbital deep, much wider than the small eye. Molar teeth in two 

 series ; teeth behind the canines slended ; scales large. Dorsal spines 

 not elongate, the front longest, about iy 2 in head; soft dorsal and 

 anal pointed behind ; caudal well forked ; second anal spine stronger 

 but not longer than third, about 4 in head ; pectoral fin elongate, 

 longer than head, reaching about to fourth soft ray of anal. Ameri- 

 can specimens show in life the following coloration : Color, golden 

 olive, the middle of each scale largely pinkish-red, giving a general 

 reddish hue to the fish ; sides and below silvery, flushed with red ; 

 many scales of back and sides each with a small round spot of deep 

 purplish-blue, those forming distinct longitudinal streaks on the sides 

 below lateral line, the series somewhat irregular, running along the 

 margins of the scales ; above the lateral line these spots are somewhat 

 scattered, forming very irregular oblique series, running upward and 

 backward ; a few of these spots on nape and upper part of opercle ; 

 a dark spot on upper part of orbital rim ; snout tinged with purplish, 

 occiput with olive ; edge of opercle dusky ; vertical fins largely 

 orange, their edges translucent ; spinous dorsal somewhat dusky ; 

 ventrals pale, with a pinkish blotch at base ; pectorals yellowish, 

 especially at base, the axil somewhat dusky. Length, 2 feet." 

 Weight to 3 or 4 pounds ; average about fy pound. 



All Porgies caught same as other small bottom fish among the 

 Keys. Edible, A. Some of them A 1. 



