SOUTHERN COAST FISHES. 403 



On a good day it is not uncommon for three or four fisliers to kill 

 from fifty to eighty dozen. 



POMATOMIDiE. 



Bluefish or Skif-jack ; greenfish (Virginia) ; tailor (Maryland and Virginia). — 

 Pomaiomus saltatrix. Gill. 



The form of this fish is oblong, head rather .large, snout 

 rounded, mouth large, armed with bony sharp teeth ; tail deeply 

 forked, color brilliant steel blue and silver in young fish, and deep 

 greenish blue in old fish ; fins yellowish. These fish are generally 

 small and not esteemed. Taken by trolling and by rod, bait and 

 float from the wharves. Shrimp are preferred for bait. At some 

 seasons they will take a light colored fly of whitish yellow hue, and 

 are often so caught on the Gulf coast of Florida. The young fish 

 are known in southern waters as whitefish and snap mackerel. 

 [See " Bluefish " in Northern Coast Fishes.] 



ELACATID^. 



Crab-eater ; cobia ; sergeant fish. — Elacate canadus. Gill. 



This fish resembles the pickerel of fresh water in form, size, 

 and habits, particularly in the long under jaw which distinguishes 

 the pike family. Body long and narrow, sub-cylindrical, marked 

 with alternate dark and light olive horizontal stripes that extend 

 from the gills to the tail ; belly white ; tail deeply crescentic, the 

 upper lobe being the longest. It has moreover a black stripe along 

 its sides which gives rise to its local name of " sergeant fish." 

 Length three to five feet. It is common on the east coast of 

 Florida, particularly on the Indian River, though its range extends 

 to Massachusetts. It prefers clear water, and subsists on smaller 

 fish and crabs, lurking under roots and sea weed, from which it 

 darts upon its prey. Takes the hook freely. 



ECHINEID^. 

 Suck-fish. — Echineis lineata, Holbrook. 



The body of this fish is similar in form to the cobia, except 

 that its tail is nearly square. It is banded like the cobia too, but 



