Common Mullet ; Striped Mullet 



food-fish of much importance. Although mullets of some species 

 or other are found on every stretch of coast-line in the world 

 in the temperate and tropical zones, it is probable that nowhere 

 else in the world are they so abundant as on our own South 

 Atlantic and Gulf coasts, with their broad margin of partially or 

 entirely land-locked brackish waters, numerous estuaries and 

 broad river-mouths. They abound in the Indian and St. John's 

 rivers of Florida, frequently running up the latter at least to Lake 

 George. Among the Florida Keys and on the west coast of 

 Florida, as well as along the entire Gulf Coast they literally swarm 

 in all suitable places. It is the most generally popular and most 

 abundant food-fish on our southern seaboard. Its abundance puts 

 it within the reach of everybody, blacks as well as whites. 

 '■How do you people live?" asked the invalid who had gone 

 to Florida to escape the rigours of the New England winter. 

 "Well, suh, the fac' is, boss," replied his old Negro guide, "in 

 the summuh time we libs on de mullet and in the winter we 

 libs mos'ly on de sick Yankee." 



The mullet does not usually take the hook but is caught 

 chiefly in seines, gillnets, or by means of cast-nets, enormous 

 catches being sometimes made. In preparing the mullet for the 

 table it may be either boiled, stewed, baked or fried. Large 

 quantities are salted for local use or shipment north, and many 

 barrels are shipped fresh to northern cities. The mullet roe is 

 also considered a delicacy; and large quantities of mullets are 

 used for bait in the various hand-line fisheries of our southern 

 waters. 



The mullet is a bottom-feeder and prefers still, shoal water 

 with grassy and sandy or muddy bottom. It swims along the 

 bottom, head down, now and then taking a mouthful of mud, 

 which is partially culled over in the mouth, the microscopic 

 particles of animal or vegetable matter retained, and the refuse 

 expelled. When one fish finds a spot rich in the desired food, 

 its companions immediately flock around in a manner reminding 

 one of barn-yard fowls feeding from a dish. The mullet eats 

 no fish or anything of any size, but is preyed upon by nearly 

 all other common fishes larger than itself. 



Colour, dark bluish above, sides silvery, with a conspicuous 

 dark stripe along each row of scales; under parts pale yellowish; 

 ventral fins yellowish, the other fins more or less dusky. 



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