446 NATURAL HISTOEY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



coasts. I have not observed it in South Florida. It is found throughout the summer and fall in 

 the bays, about wharves, rock-piles, and old wrecks, where crustaceous animals are abundant. In 

 October and November large schools are seen along the sea-beaches, evidently leaving the coast 

 for warmer waters, at which time many are caught by seine fishermen. It spawns in early summer, 

 and the young are seen until October. I have seen specimens of Spade-flsh fifteen inches long ; 

 but the average size is not more than eight inches. It is an excellent pan-fish, selling readily in 

 market." 



This species is known to the fishermen of the Saint John's and Indian Eivers, Florida, under 

 the name "Angel-fish." Holbrook states that it appears on the shores of South Carolina in May 

 and June, and is then taken in considerable numbers with the seine. Jordan states that it is 

 common at Beaufort, North Carolina, where it is used as a food-fish. Lugger remarks that it is 

 not uncommon in the salt-water region near the entrance to Chesapeake Bay, but is seldom, if 

 ever, brought to the Baltimore markets. DeKay remarks that in the waters of New York it only 

 appears periodically, and occasionally in great numbers during the summer months. About 1822 

 they were caught here in seines in great numbers, and exposed in the markets for sale. I am not 

 aware that any such incursion has since been observed. On the coast of California, where, 

 according to Jordan, it is occasionally taken about San Diego in the kelp, it is too rare to be of 

 commercial importance. 



150. THE REMORA FAMILY— ECHENEIDID.ZE. 



This family is represented on our coast by five species, which are generally known as "Suck- 

 ers" or " Sucking-fishes." They are among the most remarkable of fishes, the first dorsal fin having 

 become transformed into a sucking organ, by means of which the fish can attach themselves very 

 firmly to the sides of vessels or to the gill-covers or sides of larger species of fish. One or two of 

 the species, such as the E. naucrates, are frequently found adhering to the sides of vessels. Others 

 attach themselves to sharks, and are carried by them from place to place. Since they are them- 

 selves excellent swimmers, the purpose of this peculiar habit is hard to understand. It appears to 

 be more for the purpose of following the larger fishes in order that they may share the fragments 

 of their feasts. Very often, especially in the case of sharks, the fish to which the Suckers attach 

 themselves become very much emaciated and exhausted by the effort of swimming under this 

 impediment. The common sword-fish is frequently accompanied by one of the Sucking-fishes, which 

 has been called the "Sword-fish Sucker," Remoropsis hrachyptera. It has not been known to attach 

 itself to any other fish. The "Bill-fish," Tetrapturus, has another species of sucker peculiar to 

 itself, the Cuban ^'■Pega de las Agiijas^' BhomhocMrus osteochir. 



Mr. Stearns states that in the Gulf of Mexico, when on the snapper banks fishing, he has seen 

 these fish leave sharks that were in the vicinity and remain about the vessel as long as it staid 

 there for the purjiose of securing the bait that had been thrown overboard. He noticed some that 

 were four or five feet in length. These " Sucking-fish " are never eaten, and are interesting chiefly 

 as enemies of other more important species. 



The Eemora was one of the first fishes observed by the early discoverers of North Americai. In 

 Ogilby's "America" is the following description of the manner in which the Indians used these 

 fishes HS aids in the capture of other larger species. The incident seems to have occurred about 

 the West Indian islands: 



'^Columbus from hence (from Cuba) proceeding on further Westward, discover'd a fruitful 

 Coast, verging the Mouth of a Eiver, whose Water runs Boyling into the Sea. Somewhat further 

 he saw very strange Fishes, especially of the Guaican, not unlike an Eel, but with an extraordinary 



