330 Big Game Fishes 
only in October and November. The fish spawns 
in April and May in these localities. On the 
outer keys spawning fish were found in the 
shallow lagoon east of Long Key in the latter 
part of February and the first weeks in March, 
and shortly after the young fish were seen, 
while several weeks later a seine hauled about 
the old mangrove roots would contain great 
quantities of young, easily recognized by the 
black stripes or bands. 
The average fish I caught on the reef weighed 
from seven to twelve and eighteen pounds, while 
individuals weighing twenty pounds were fre- 
quently taken. Among New York fishermen 
stories of extraordinarily large sheepshead are 
often reported, but individuals weighing fifteen 
pounds are considered large catches. It is mar- 
vellous how a fish will shrink and shrivel when 
subjected to the deadly scales that have not been 
encouraged to make the most of things. I once 
saw a sheepshead which had been caught over 
an old wreck, near Asbury Park, which was 
hailed as the record; but it appeared later that 
the fish was “in ballast,” having been made a 
repository for all the lead sinkers of the party. 
The sheepshead is trapped and seined, taken with 
