FISHES OF NEW YORK 719 



Is styled flounder, or summer flounder , turbot flounder, 

 toothed flatfish, fluke, and, in Great South bay, it shares the 

 name flatfish with the Pseudopleuronec'tes ameri- 

 c a n u s . Brail and puckermouth are names applied to it in 

 Rhode Island. The name fluke is the one most frequently used 

 on Long Island. 



The fluke is a very abundant fish and is found on the eastern 

 coast from about Cape Cod to the Gulf of Mexico. Centers of 

 abundance are found on the Connecticut coast and on Long 

 Island. 



It is a summer visitor in Gravesend bay, arriving in May or 

 June, and leaving when^cold weather begins. It frequents the 

 sandy flats for the purpose of feeding on little fishes, which it 

 destroys in large numbers. A fluke will often be found with 

 eight or 10 little blackfish in its stomach, and young mackerel 

 suffer greatly from its depredations. In Great South bay this 

 fish was found at Blue Point cove and at Fire Island late in 

 September, and was caught in traps at Islip October 1, 1890. 



Small fluke were collected in Mecox bav, Blue Point cove and 

 at Islip in August 1898. Adults were obtained at Fire Island 

 inlet Sep. 16 of that year, when they were abundant. In 1901 

 the fish were taken at Fire Island inlet. Blue Point, and Smith's 

 point. Aug. 1 they were feeding on small mefihaden. The next 

 day they were seen in Wigo inlet, and again chasing young men- 

 haden. On that date more than half a barrel were caught in the 

 inlet near buoy no. 2, with young menhaden for bait. One of 

 the fluke disgorged a sand lance. 



It feeds on small fishes, crustaceans, mollusks and occasion- 

 ally on sand dollars, and one of its favorite foods is said to be 

 the squid. This fish is found generally in salt water, but fre- 

 quently ascends fresh streams. Unlike the flatfish, it moves 

 off into deep water in winter, and may be found in summer near 

 the shores. The fluke has the same habit as the flatfish, of 

 burying itself in the sand when alarmed, or secreting itself from 

 its prey. It is often found feeding about wharves, whose sup- 

 ports furnish it a suitable hiding place from which to dart on 



