The Cavalli Family 309 



outfit for the runner, which is also known as 

 hard-tail and jurel in some localities. About 

 Key West and the neighboring keys the best 

 bait is the little whirligig mullet {Querimana 

 gyrans), which whirls on the surface in large 

 schools, or cut bait or shrimps may be used to 

 advantage. 



The author of a recently published book on 

 the fishes of Florida makes the following queer 

 statement, " It seems to me the runners are 

 hybrids from the crevalle and bluefish species or 

 families, as they certainly resemble both of those 

 fishes." It would be strange did they not resem- 

 ble the fishes named, as all are of the mackerel 

 tribe, and all are distinguished by having falcate 

 anal and dorsal fins of about the same relative 

 size, and placed about opposite each other, and 

 also have swallow-shaped caudal fins with slender 

 caudal pedicle ; but there the greatest resemblance 

 ends. I have never seen a hybrid among fishes 

 in the natural state. They can be produced by 

 the fishculturist between kindred species, but 

 there is no especial benefit to be derived from 

 such experiments. Hybrids, or so-called mules, 

 are infertile, and incapable of reproducing their 

 kind. 



