CAPTUEB OF THE EED FISH. 375 



then back again, while the line is pulled just hard enough to draw him in a little nearer the shore; 

 then up and down, each time a still shorter distance. At each effort I feel his powers give way, 

 and then as he makes a turn we pull his head toward the shore and keep it there. Now is the 

 critical period; now, if ar all, the line will part or the hook break. I haul the line in rapidly, 

 hand over hand, keeping it taut, for the least slack or a failure to grasp the line firmly would 

 perhaps lose the game. Swerving to and fro, I draw him rapidly in, and with such force does he 

 come that far up the shelving rocks we land our prize, a thirty-pound Bass, a magnificent fellow, 

 his scales glistening like burnished silver in the moonlight."' 



123. THE YELLOW-TAIL— BAIRDIELLA CHRYSURA. 



The Tellow-tail, known as "Silver Perch" on the coast of New Jersey, is quite an important 

 food-fish in the Southern States. But little has been written regarding it, and its excellent 

 qualities are not yet thoroughly appreciated. In fact, it has been confused with other species by 

 both Holbrook and Giinther. This fish has not been observed north of New York, where it was 

 recorded by Mitchill and DeKay, the latter of whom stated that it was not uncommon in the 

 summer season. 



Professor Baird found the young very abundant about Beasley's Point in 1834, though the 

 adults were unknown to the fishermen Uhler and Lugger, who, following the mistaken nomen- 

 clature of Holbrook, confusing this with a species of Idostomus, state that it is common in the 

 Chesapeake and Lower Potomac. It is also abundant about Beaufort, North Carolina, and in the 

 vicinity of Charleston. 



According to many observ^ers, Yellow-tails are highly esteemed for food at Saint Simon's 

 Island, New Brunswick, Georgia, and in the Lower Saint John's Eiver. They probably never 

 ascend the river much above Jacksonville, though in 1877 great quantities were taken in the 

 month of April at the mouth of the Arlington Eiver. In 1878 the water was so fresh at this point 

 that none could be taken there, though I saw them at Yellow Bluffs in water not perceptibly 

 brackish to the taste. A large majority of those observed at Mayport on April 7, 1875, were full 

 grown and taken at the point of spawning. Others taken by fishermen at Mayport, April 15, 1878, 

 had the spawn running freely from them. The largest adult did not exceed eight inches in length. 



On the Florida coast of the Gulf of Mexico, according to Mr. Stearns, they are very common. 

 They were found by Jordan to be very abundant along the shores of Louisiana and Texas. At 

 Pensacola they are known by the name " Mademoiselle." They are present throughout the year, 

 but most plenty from May until November, and are found in company witk the Trout and the 

 Spot on the grassy shoals of the bays where they feed and spawn. The time for spawning is in 

 June and July. They feed chiefly upon small fishes and shrimps. They do not school, but swim 

 singly or in pairs. Their extreme length does not exceed ten or eleven inches, the average being 

 about eight. They are regarded as excellent pan-fish. 



124. THE KING-FISH— MENTICIRRUS NEBULOSUS. 



The King-fish, also known as the " Hake" on the coast of New Jersey and Delaware, and aa 

 the " Tom-cod " on the coast of Connecticut, the " Black Mullet " in the Chesapeake, the " Sea 

 Mink" in North Carolina, and sometimes also in the South as the "Whiting," ranges from Cape 

 Ann south at least as far as the mouth of the Saint John's Eiver, Florida, although in the southern 

 part of its range it is frequently confused with the Whiting. It has been obtained by Jordan 

 and Stearns at Pensacola ; it is, however, rare in the Gulf. It is discussed as follows by Pro- 

 fessor Baird in an unpublished manuscript : 



■ The Semi-Tropioal, iii, 1877, p. 663. 



