EASTERN COAST FISHES. 243 



Albicore ; Horse Mackerel. The A merican Tmiay.—Orcynm ^ecundi- 

 dorsalU . — Gill. 



This fish takes the hook freely, and is good for the table, sell- 

 ing at ten cents a pound from the smacks, but as he weighs from 

 five hundred to twelve hundred pounds, will not be sought by 

 anglers. 



Gero. — cerus sierra ; black spotted Spanish mackerel ; kingfish. — Cyhiuiti regale. 



— Cuv. 



This belongs to the family scombridce (mackerel), and is highly 

 esteemed for the table. It is white-meated, and ranges in weight 

 from four to twelve pounds ; is a more slender fish than any of his 

 kindred, an individual three feet in length often weighing no more 

 than six or eight pounds. They are taken with common Britannia 

 metal squids while trolling for bluefish, and being at all times a 

 ravenous biter, may possibly be taken with the rod. It is com- 

 paratively a new comer on the coast from Virginia to Rhode Island. 



The Cero is of dull blue or lead color on the back and sides, 

 which are plentifully spotted with black dots ; belly white. It has 

 no perceptible scales. Spawns in the spring. 



THE SCI^NID^. 



Weakfish, — Squeteague, suckermang or squit (New England) ; yellow-iin, she- 

 cutts, checutte, or ohickwick (New York) ; bluefish, (Beasley's Point, New 

 Jersey), — Cynoscion regalis, — Gill. 



This fish is marked by gorgeous spots upon a ground of blue 

 and silver, and by red and yellow fins, which are characteristic of 

 the fresh water trout, and have undoubtedly given to it the name 

 of " trout " in some sections. Ordinarily it is caught by hand- 

 lines fished from a boat. These weakfish come in with the tide in 

 immense shoals, following the small fry upon which they and their 

 congeners feed, and are caught by the boat-load at half-flood 

 within a few feet of the surface. Bait with a shrimp or shedder, 

 and keep the line constantly' in motion, and half the time you 

 will "jig" them in the belly, tail or side, as the finny mass 

 moves over the hook. Down at the " Narrows " of New York 

 Bay, near Fort Richmond, is a favorite place. In New Haven 

 harbor, and other harbors of the Sound, and especially in the vicin- 



