COu THE FOOD FISHES. 



The common Sand Shrimp (Crangon vulgaris), occurs in great numbers on the sandy 

 flats, and furnish occupation to parties who supply the New York market. The Shrimps 

 are seen abundantly exposed for sale in town; bright red from the process of boiling they 

 have been subjected to. 



Tlie Horse-shoe Crab, or King Crab, so called, is to some very familial', but from its 

 peculiar habitat it is unknown to others. For example, it is not seen on our sandy beaches, — 

 but visit the estuaries, or creeks ami salt marshes, there will be seen this curious crab in abun- 

 dance. The shape is altogether unique, and only one species is known here. The body is 

 quite like a horse's foot — not a shoe. It grows to be nearly twelve inches across. On the 

 posterior rim of the Horse-foot, a spine is articulated, which is capable of moving in most 

 directions. This spine is about the length of the diameter of the body, and terminates in a 

 sharp point. Its dark, glossy, chestnut color, and smooth surface, render the creature rather 

 attractive, its shape being a pleasing feature also. 



The common Soft-shell Clam {Mya arenaria) forms an important article of food for many 

 of our edible fishes. Its commercial importance is also notable. Fishermen along our coast 

 depend largely on this clam for bait in catching Cod and Haddock. As an edible in itself its 

 value is great. All our markets are supplied throughout the entire year with this edible. 

 Its habitat is mostly in estuaries. The best eating kinds are found in clean, gravelly bottoms. 

 Like our food fishes, the Clam is found to lie much more palatable when taken in colder 

 waters. For example, those found north of Boston are much more highly prized than those 

 south of it; although, perhaps, little difference is seen until we get to the shores south of 

 New York. One may be convinced of this by a visit to Coney Island in summer. He 

 may ask and search here, or at Rockaway, or any of the shore eating-stands, and find no 

 Soft-shell Clams. Occasionally, some venturesome New Englander, with the memory of 

 " Rocky Point," or a Rhode Island Clam-bake in his mind, and the sweetness thereof, sets 

 up a stall for the sale of the bivalve, but he soon finds that the New Yorkers prefer the 

 tasteless "quahog," a shell-fish despised in New England. Still farther south, say at Norfolk 

 and Old Point, the Black-noses, as they call them, are not considered lit to eat. Well the 

 people of this region may say that, in two respects. They have a wondrous variety of game 

 and shell-fish, not matched in any other place, and the Soft-shell Clam found there has none 

 of the sweetness or good flavor attached to the northern variety. 



Tlie Sea Clam (Mactra soHdissima) is a large, thick-shelled species, much valued by some 

 as an edible, but, the truth told, it is probable that it cannot be regarded as a luxurious edible. 

 It lives just below low-water mark, and is often, at spring-tides, found lying exposed ; at such 

 times, it is gathered for the local markets. The shell of this Clam is so hard, it seems improb- 

 able that it serves in any considerable degree as food for fishes, though the larger ground fishes 

 may take it in as an entire morsel, the shells to be rejected at convenient seasons. The range 

 of this shell is from Labrador to North Carolina. After violent easterly storms, this great 

 Clam is seen, thrown up by the waves, on the sandy beaches of Nahant and Lynn. 



The common Round Clam, Quahog ( Venus mercenaria), alluded to above, is an abundant 

 species, but has a peculiar distribution. It is abundant from Cape Cod to Florida. North of 

 Cape Cod, it is found sparsely. We have never seen it in any other locality around Boston, 

 excepting in Salem Harbor; even there, it was confined to a sheltered, interior water. It 

 occurs, in a few sheltered places, in Casco Bay. Quahog Bay, near Portland, is a favorite 

 locality with the inhabitants. In the southern parts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and about 

 Prince Edward's Island and the opposite coast of Nova Scotia, it is somewhat abundant. 



The common Scallop {Pecten irradians) is rather an important shell-fish in and near 

 New York. Its flesh is a common article in the markets. Only the stout, muscular portion 

 is used, that portion which holds the valves together. The thinness of the shells renders the 

 animal a ready prey to fishes. 



The Squitta empusa, a crustacean not at all familiar to most, is an interesting species. It 

 is one of the choice morsels for fishes, when Squilla allows himself to be outwitted, for they 

 burrow ami live in holes, which they seldom leave. We have watched the large species 

 common in the warmer waters, and never succeeded in viewing them out of their domicile. 



