THE HARVEST FISHES. 225 
around them. Their stomachs were found to contain amphipod crusta- 
ceans, hydroids, and young squids. They are doubtless to some degree 
protected by the spars under which they congregate, in the same manner 
as their kindred, the Butter-fish, which swim under the disk of the 
jelly-fish. Their colors undergo considerable change from time to time, 
possibly at the will of the fish. 
The Rudder-fish attains the length of ten or twelve inches, and is 
excellent eating. DeKay states that the fishermen of New York, in 1842, 
called this species the ‘‘Snip-nosed Mullet,’’ but this name does not 
appear to have become permanent. 
The Rudder-fish occasionally follows ships across the Atlantic. A sin- 
gle individual was taken at Penzance, in Cornwall, in October, 1879, and 
is now in the collection of Sir John St. Aubyn, at ‘‘ Michaels Mount.”’ 
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