460 Fisuinc in AMERICAN WATERS. 
Tue Pomrano.—Trachynolus Curolinus. 
CHAPTER III 
SECTION FIRST. 
Tus excellent broiler is an equally good boiler; for, ac- 
cording to Mr. C , “its bones boil soft.” It is a delicious, 
creamy luxury, melting in the mouth, aud without any for- 
eign taste, it being the best possible in itself It is mullet- 
mouthed ; never takes a bait except by mistake. It is caught 
by nets set in the night-time. It is supposed to spawn in 
spring-time, each pair of fishes producing a shoal of fifty 
thousand or more; but as it does not become abundant, 
not a market ever having been known to be glutted with it, 
tithes of each shoal must go to satisfy the capacious maws 
of the dolphin and numerous shoals of rapacious food-fishes, 
which get partly paid for it when they undertake to swal- 
low a squid or bait with a hook in it. 
The weight of the pompano is from half to a pound anda 
half. There are three movable spikes at front of the dorsal, 
being its only protection, except that it is a swift swimmer, 
and ean lie closely hidden against the rocky bottom. Its 
infinitesimal scales radiate the light, and when alive it is a 
sparkling gem. In tints the pompano is decked with all the 
colors of the rainbow, blended so as to sparkle, and form of 
it a gem of superior brilliancy and beauty. 
