398 GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA. 



used are clams (better boiled, being tougher), crabs, fiddlers, and 

 conchs. The latter bait is very tough, well resists the strong teeth 

 9f the sheepshead. Sinkers of different weights are required to 

 suit the force of the tide at different times, the sheepshead being a 

 bottom fish. Two, four, and six ounces will be found sufficient. 



The sheepshead appears in the neighborhood of Charleston in 

 A-pril, and continues until November. It enters shallow inlets and 

 mouths of rivers, which it ascends so far as the water remains 

 brackish. It prefers rocky bottoms or sheltered places ; old wrecks 

 are favorite resorts, because they collect barnacles and other shells. 

 They can be easily tolled to a place by sinking old logs or timbers 

 on which barnacles will collect. If these are removed, the fish at 

 once disappear. 



PoRGY ;■ fairmaid. — Stenotomus argyrops. Gill. 



A well-known fish, of an iridescent silvery color, tinged with 

 blue, purple and green, and takes the hook freely baited with clams 

 or other shell fish. Ranges from Florida to Cape Cod. Most 

 abundant in June and July. Prefers deep waters with rocky bot- 

 toms, but is often found in waters of an altogether different 

 character. 



Rhohboidal Porgy ; bream. — Lagodon rhomhoides. Holbrook. 



Nearly oval in shape. Head above pale brown with small 

 golden spots ; sides of head marked with several alternate pale 

 blue and golden lines ; the body above the lateral line marked with 

 similar hues of the same color, but more clouded ; slightly arched 

 and concentric. Below the lateral line these are horizontal and 

 parallel to the belly, where the blue lines disappear, and are re- 

 placed with alternate white and golden lines ; belly white ; a dusky 

 spot above the root of the pectoral fin. Length ten inches. Feeds 

 on crustaceous animals and smaller fish. It is abundant in May 

 and June. Takes bait freely. Flesh palatable. 



PRISTIPOMATID^. 



Red Mouth Grunt. — Haynulon chrysopteron. Cuvier. 



Back arched, pale umber grey ; belly silvery ; fins yellowish ; 

 Jength twelve inches ; taken in Carolina waters at all seasons of 



