ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. 277 



An error as to edible qualities. They cite two authorities, who call 

 the fish " Banana Fish," and they put it in as one of their common 

 names. 



Now, the Bone-fish of Biscayne Bay and the Keys does not in the 

 least resemble a banana in shape, but the Lady-fish Bone-fish of Flor- 

 ida does decidedly resemble a banana. Where, or how, did the 

 Albula vulpes of the books get the name of Banana Fish ? They say, 

 " Ranging northward on our coasts to San Diego and Long Island." 

 See H. M. Smith, as quoted, as to latter point. 



They say of Elops saurus : "Tropical seas, abundant and very 

 widely distributed, common in America, north to Carolina and the 

 Gulf of California, straying on the Atlantic coast to Long Island." 

 Which I believe to be correct. They say nothing of its edible qualities. 



G. Brown Goode, page 410, as quoted. He very evidently 

 classed the Lady-fish of Florida in the Albula family. He says Hen- 

 shall found it in the Indian River Inlet, etc. 



I am inclined to think Doctor Henshall simply wrote of the 

 " Lady-fish " of Florida, and had nothing to do with Goode's descrip- 

 tion. He speaks of the fish he caught as a "slender fish," so surely 

 was writing of the so-called Lady-fish of Florida. 



Goode says : "At the Bermudas, large schools are taken, and it is 

 there considered a most excellent food fish. From personal observa- 

 tion I can testify that its reputation is by no means a false one." 

 After quoting from Henshall, he says : " On account of its beautiful 

 color it sells readily, but is not esteemed as a table fish." 



U. S. Fish Commission Report of 1895, in Check List by J. & E. 

 Elopdce : "Common north to the Gulf of California and to the 

 Long Island Sound on the Atlantic coast." See H. M. Smith as to 

 this statement. 



Of Albula vulpes ', they say: "Tropical seas, varying northward 

 to San Diego and Long Island." 



In same work is quotation from list of J. F. McCormick, "Bone- 

 fish. Albula vulpes." Nothing to indicate which Bonefish he 

 meant. I presume, the one of Biscayne Bay and the Keys. 



U. S. Fish Commission Report, l<s ( .Ki, page 240. Evermann & 

 Kendall say, under heading Elops saurus: "Observed at Fort 



