THE FISHES OF THE EAST FLORIDA COAST. 



By S. C. CLARKE. 



CHAPTEE I. 



The coasts of the peninsula of Florida afford a great variety- 

 of species of fish, and probably a greater variety of valuable food 

 fishes than can be found in any one region in the United States. 



We find some migratory species that are common on the Northern 

 coast, such as the striped bass, sea bass, bluefish, sheepshead, weak- 

 fish. There are others whose range is not usually farther North 

 than the capes of Delaware ; as the black and red drum. Others, 

 ■which are local and stationary in their habits ; such as the groupers 

 and snappers. And others again, of a more tropical character, which 

 only appear on the Florida coast in warm weather, and whose home 

 is in more southern latitudes ; as the tarpum, cavalli and ladyfish. 



These species are abundant in their season, and many of 

 them are of the best quality on the table ; for instance, the 

 pompano, which takes its place among the three best fishes of the 

 American Continent ; the other two being, in my judgment, the sal- 

 mon of the East coast and the whitefish of the great lakes. Tastes 

 differ, and some may dissent from this opinion, but having eaten of 

 these fish on the shores of their native waters, I give this as my 

 verdict. 



Nowhere in our broad country can the angler find greater variety 

 of game, or more or better sport than on the coasts of Florida. la 



