FISHES 221 



but may finally reach the smaller tributaries of the river 

 over a thousand miles from the sea. Here, on beds of 

 fine gravel, they deposit their eggs. An individual salmon 

 spawns only once, and as soon as the spawning is done 

 both the males and females die. 



"The game fish which has been most written about and 

 which is, perhaps, best and most widely known among the 

 anglers of the world is undoubtedly the brook trout or 

 speckled trout." It belongs to the salmon family and in- 

 habits cool, clear, and woody streams in the eastern part of 

 Canada and our northern states, but is fast disappearing. 



In addition to the fishes especially mentioned in the fore- 

 going paragraphs; there are many others that form a very 

 important part of our food supply. The perches, pikes, 

 basses, anchovies, sardines, bluefish, halibut, mullets, and 

 others are familiar food fishes. The black bass is an ex- 

 cellent food and game fish and is widely distributed in the 

 streams and lakes of the eastern United States. The red 

 snapper and the pompano are very important food fishes, 

 especially along the Gulf coast. The sheepshead, so well 

 known along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, is a game fish 

 and is of great commercial importance. 



There are something over sixty species of the bony fishes 

 that constitute the family of flying fishes. They are found 

 in nearly all warm seas, usually appearing in schools near 

 the surface of the water and sailing, or flying through the 

 air. The largest species is found off the coast of southern 

 California. This is thetonly flying fish inhabiting our Pacific 

 coast north of Cape San Lucas. It is the largest flying 

 fish known, attaining a length of eighteen inches and has 

 the greatest power of flight of any member of the group. 

 These fishes are enabled to sail through the air by means 



