FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 415 



100. White Mullet ; Silver Mullet {Mugil cnrema C. & V.). 



The White Mullet is called Nezv York Mullet by Mitchill. He records a speci- 

 men that weighed 25^ pounds, the heaviest coming under his observation. DeKay 

 found the species in New York market in July and August. In the Gulf of Mexico 

 this fish is known as the Silver Mullet. The White Mullet has the same range as 

 the Striped Mullet, and the young is sometimes very abundant at Cape Cod and on 

 the coast of New Jersey in the summer. Dr. Smith says it is common at Woods 

 Hole, Mass., from July i to October; the largest specimens being 5 inches long. In 

 summer fish from ^4 inch to 2 inches long are often taken. 



This mullet appears in Gravesend Bay with the Striped Mullet, but is less 

 abundant. The young were caught in August, 1898, in several parts of Great South 

 Bay. Adults were scarce, but half-grown individuals were abundant in September 

 and October, igoi. No large ones were obtained ; on September 20 a number of 

 examples measured 434 inches each. 



101. Whirligig Mullet {Mugil tricJwdon Poey), (Young.) 



The Whirligig Mullet is believed to be the young of the Fan-tail Mullet. The 

 fish inhabits the waters from Florida Keys to Brazil, and occasionally to Cuba, 

 straying northward in summer apparently as far as Woods Hole, Mass. The types 

 of the Whirligig Mullet have been re-examined by the writer, and they appear to 

 agree perfectly with the Fan-tail Mullet. Some of the types have the scales in 

 33 rows instead of 29, as given in the original description. 



This mullet is said to be common in summer at Woods Hole, Mass. It has also 

 been found in Gravesend Bay. If there be no error of identification, the species has 

 a much wider range than at first believed. All young mullets have the peculiarity 

 upon which the genus of Whirligig Mullets was based ; that is, the anal fin has only 

 two developed rays instead of three as in the other mullets. The first anal ray of 

 this young fish, however, becomes converted into a spine mechanically when the fish 

 reaches the length of about 1^/5 inches. 



Family SPHYR^ENIDiE. Barracudas. 



102. Long Barracuda {SphyrcEua guachancho C. & V.). 



The Long Barracuda is a native of the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico and 

 northward occasionally in the Gulf Stream as far as Cape Cod. It is rather common 

 in tropical waters and grows to the length of about 2 feet. Dr. Smith records 



