114: FISHES or THE EAST ATLANTIC COAST. 



bait for this fish is cut mullet, but from the habits of the trout I 

 have no doubt that live bait would prove more attractive, as it is 

 found to do with the red bass. Probablj- also to the sharks, which 

 abound in these waters, and make trouble by cutting off lines and 

 taking the fish from the angler's hook as he plays them. 



This is also a roving species, and is taken on the same grounds as 

 the bass — preferring, however, tideway.s and rapid currents. We 

 seldom take more than four or five salt water trout in a day's titfh- 

 ing, together with other species. One great pleasure in angling- 

 along this coast is the variety of fish which one encounters, and you 

 can never predict whether your next capture will weigh one pound 

 or twenty. 



DESCRIPTION FROM JORDAN AND GILBERT'S SYNOPSIS. 



Cynoseion macalu m — (Mitchell, Gill). — Spotted sea trout. Bright silver)', 

 darker above ; back posteriorly with numerous round black spots as large as the 

 pupil ; both dorsal and caudal fins marked with similar somewhat smaller spots 

 much as in a trout ; anal dusky. Maxillary reaching to posterior edge of eye ; canl 

 ines moderate. Longest dorsal spine not quite half the length of the head ; cauda 

 lunate. Head, 3^ ; depth, 5. Eye large, about 6 in head. D.X — I, 25 ; A. I. 

 10 ; Lat. I ; about 90. Virginia to Mexico ; very abundant southward. 



