50 Big Game Fishes 
including Porto Rico, now an American colony, 
the list would be larger. Among the small 
snappers, resembling the gray snapper, is the 
schoolmaster, Lutzanus apodus, easily recognized 
by its reddish brown and orange colors and 
whitish stripes. I have taken twelve-pounders 
on the edge of a little channel near Bird Key, 
and have seen individuals on the edges of the 
channels which were doubtless much larger. As 
a hard fighter and vigorous fish it is unexcelled. 
Another gamy snapper is the red tail, La¢canus 
synagris (Linn.), and seen directly from the 
water it is one of the most beautiful of all fishes. 
As it comes in on the line after a vigorous play, 
it appears olive-hued; then as it reaches the 
surface and the sun plays upon it, rose, scarlet, 
silver, gold, deep maroon, and almost every color 
flash and blend to add to its beauties. Even the 
lips are vivid red, its eye or iris a flame of 
scarlet, marking the fish as a fitting companion 
to the gorgeous parrot and angel fishes of the 
reef, 
