178 NEW YORK STATEl MUSEUM 



Tarpon atlanticus Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 409, 1896; 

 pi. LXVII, fig. 177, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 90, 1898; 

 lEvEEMANN & Maesh, Flslies Porto Rico, Bull. U. S. F. G. 1900; 80, fig. 

 10, 1900. 



Body elongate, compressed, not deep, its greatest higlit about 

 one fourth of total length without caudal. Length of head 

 nearly equal to greatest hight of body. Mouth large, oblique, 

 the lower jaw very prominent, the maxillary extending beyond 

 the vertical from hind margin of eye; eye moderately large, two 

 thirds length of snout, two elevenths length of head; dorsal 

 origin midway between tip of snout and end of middle caudal 

 rays, dorsal base two fifths as long as head, dorsal filament 

 nearly as long as the head; ventral origin midway between tip 

 of snout and end of anal fin, the ventral fin two fifths as long 

 as the head; base of anal three fourths as long as th^ head; 

 pectoral fin as long as the longest ray of dorsal; caudal deeply 

 forked, its longest rays equal to dorsal filament. Size large, 

 weight reaching nearly 200 pounds and length 6 or 7 feet. Color 

 silvery, darker above. D. Ill, 12; A. Ill, 23; P. 13; V. II, 9. 

 Scales 12-47. 



The tarpon inhabits the western Atlantic from Cape Cod to 

 Brazil and the West Indies, being rather uncommon northward, 

 but abundant toward the south, ascending rivers in pursuit of 

 smaller fishes on which it feeds. The species grows to the length 

 of 7 feet and the weight of 150 pounds, or upward. It is not 

 prized for food, but is now very celebrated as a game fish of 

 great endurance and strength. The scales are an article of com- 

 merce as curiosities. Fishermen dread the tarpon because it 

 leaps through their nets with great violence, and the Pensacola 

 seiners have known of persons being killed or severely injured 

 by its leaping against them from the seine in which it was 

 inclosed. As to the edible qualities of the flesh opinions differ, 

 but the fact is that the species is seldom eaten. 



Grirard had a specimen from Long Island which he described 

 in 1858. Since that time it has been seen there occasionally. In 

 the fall of 1898, Capt. H. E. Swezey reported to me that he found 

 one about 4 feet long in Swan river at Patchogue. The fish was^ 



