CHAPTEK Y. 



The Kixgfish. — J^lenlirirruA nebulusu.-i — Mitch. 



The kingfish, or wbitiiig, as it is culled along the southern coast, 

 is the gamiest fish for its size known to the angler. Its great 

 gaminess, its beauty of coloring and form, and its excellent flavor 

 combined to cause the loyal citizens of New York in the colonial 

 days, to name the fish the king-fish. 



It used to be very abundant in the waters of New Y'ork city, and 

 'with the small strijjed bass, was the crowning glory of the old 

 "time fishing. In such esteem was the king-fish that I have read in 

 some fishing book that the New Y''ork angler on hearing that 

 king-fish were to be caught from the pier-heads, would seize his rod 

 and basket and rush oif in his shirt sleeves to enjoy the long wished 

 for sport. 



But' now the kingfish are very scarce incur harbor ; but there are 

 plenty of them to be bought in Fulton Market, having been brought 

 up to the city from the Jersey coast and the South Bay. Genio. C. 

 Scott is very enthusiastic about the kingfish, giving it a very high 

 rank among salt water game fishes ; and he makes the assertion 

 that the. New York angler cares more for a two 230und whiting in 

 his oasket than (well I have forgotten how many pounds of any 

 other salt water fish.) But withotit claiming as much as this for 

 the kmgfish, he is worthy in every respect of the high esteem in 

 ■which he is held by anglers and epicures. 



The kingfish, also sometimes called barb, is tapering and long in 

 form, has. a complete covering of round and ciliated scales, and on 



