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THE GKOUPER. 



they resemble the above-mentioned fishes, the tail being large 

 and of the half-moon shape. 



The usual mode of capturing them is with heavy bone or 

 tin squids, although they will often jump at a red or white 

 rag. Enthusiastic anglers have been known to take them 

 with the rod and reel and gimp snells, but they are much too 

 powerful a fish, often jumping five or six feet out of the wa- 

 ter, and should not be trusted with any but the strongest 

 of tackle. They are an excellent table-fish. 



THE GROUPER 



Is another exclusive sea-fish, and is caught in the Gulf of 

 Mexico, on the Florida reefs, at the Bahama Islands, and on 

 the South American coast, mostly for the market, by deep- 

 water fishermen, with clams, mullet, and crab for bait, al- 

 though they are sought after and often taken by the angler 

 by trolling deep with heavy metal squids armed with large- 

 size cod-hooks. In form they resemble an immense sheeps- 

 head. In color they are a dark gray on the back, blending 

 into nearly a white on the belly. By the Southern people 

 they are ranked quite equal in flavor to many of their most 

 esteemed fishes. They are certainly a rich-meated and much- 

 favored fish ; weight from ten to upward of one hundred 

 pounds. 



" All hail to the grouper, the pride of our coast, 

 To hoil or to bake, to fry or to roast, 

 'Tie the prince, 'tis the king, yea, even the boss, 

 Served with butter, with shrimp, or pure lobster sauce I " 



