Giant Fish of Florida 
THE GarFIsH (Belone spec.) 
The flying fish is by no means common, though probably 
existent on that coast, but it ‘has a relative in the garfish ; 
and, though this does not commonly do much flying, it can’ 
on occasion, as when pursued by a swift and powerful 
enemy, throw itself clean out of the water with much energy, 
and can propel itself for thirty yards in the air by occasionally 
tipping the water with its tail. In this case the garfish are 
alarmed by a kingfish that is really after a skipjack. A 
good deal of prejudice exists against this fish at home, on 
account of its green bones (I take this to be the same species 
that swims in British waters), but it is first-rate eating. 
Garfish may be found, as a rule, close in amid the surf, 
where they hunt for small, thin-shelled sandhoppers, about 
the size of French beans. One of these on a small hook 
is, in fact, the best bait if any one wishes to angle specially 
for garfish, but the long bill and the presence inside it of 
innumerable needle-like teeth do not make the work of 
extracting the hook particularly pleasant. 
