100 Fisumyc iv AMERICAN WATERS. 
THE GOLDEN MULLET. 
This is eminently a fish of the coast and inlets of the Caro- 
linas, though in summer it is taken in considerable numbers 
as far north as the coast and estuaries of New Jersey. Its 
mouth is very small and toothless, so that a person might be 
led to suppose that it lived on animaleula did it not bite so 
ravenously. In size, the golden mullet range from half a 
pound to a pound, and they are so fat that cooks say “ they 
fry themselves.” I know of no fish possessing in an equal de- 
gree the rich, sweet juiciness of the golden mullet. It is al- 
ways distinguishable by from two to four jet spots above 
the tail. The color of the back is brown, sides golden, belly 
white, meat a cream color. Its scales are small and soft, fins 
soft-rayed, The body is masculated in dark shades like the 
squeteague, and the tail is straight across the end. 
Tue GoLtpeN MuLuer. 
The golden mullet affords exciting sport to the young an- 
gler with very light bass and perch tackle. The rod should 
either be four-jointed and ten feet long, or a plain bamboo 
pole, mounted with guides and reel-rings. The reel may be 
small, but large enough to carry a hundred yards of fine linen 
line, because the angler sometimes hooks squeteague, grunt- 
ers, striped bass, and kingfish while angling for the smaller 
delicacy. The golden mullet affects shrimp bait, but will 
sometimes take mussels and soft clams. The hook must be 
small—single leaders are preferred—and a swivel and float 
afford the prettiest sport, with two hooks, as rigged for small 
striped bass. The golden mullet seldom ventures far above 
the estuaries of rivers, and it should not be disgraced by con- 
