33© Bass, Pike, and Percb 



Somewhat larger hooks, say No. 2-0, and a 

 Httle heavier line, braided linen, size F, are more 

 suitable for this fish; otherwise the same tackle 

 and baits can be employed as for the other grunts 

 and channel fishes. 



THE SAItOK'S CHOICE 

 (Hezmulon parra) 



This grunt is sometimes called bastard mar- 

 garet by the Key West fisherman. The name 

 sailor's choice is often wrongly applied to the pin- 

 fish {Lagodon rhomboides) and the pig-fish {Ortho- 

 pristis chrysopterus). The sailor's choice was 

 first described by Desmarest, in 1823, from Ha- 

 vana; he named it parra in honor of the Cuban 

 naturalist, Parra. It is a good pan-fish, eight or 

 ten inches long, usually, but sometimes growing 

 to a foot in length. It is abundant from Key 

 West to Brazil. I have taken it from the line of 

 keys southwest of Cape Florida, and along the 

 mainland from Biscayne Bay to Marco and Lemon 

 Bay on the Gulf coast. 



Its body is of about the same proportions, and 

 of the same general appearance, as that of the 

 yellow grunt, and it grows to about the same 

 size. The radial formula of its fins and size of 



