FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 43 1 



In fishing at night with the lantern young Bluefish were occasionally seen swim- 

 ming in small bunches at a little distance below the surface, but keeping near the 

 bow of the boat while it was in motion. Specimens were sometimes caught with a 

 dip net. 



Family RACHYCENTRID^. Sergeant Fishes. 



140. Crabeater ; Cobia {Rachycentron canadiim Linnaeus). 



The Crabeater, or Cobia, was known to Dr. Mitchill, who had a specimen which 

 was caught in New York Bay June 11, 181 5. 



Dr. DeKay calls this fish the Northern Crabeater. The specimen which he 

 described was captured in Boston Harbor and placed in a live car with other fish, 

 chiefly Porgies, and it destroyed and ate every fish in the car. Dr. A. K. Fisher, 

 of Washington, has found the young of the Crabeater in the Hudson, near Sing 

 Sing. 



Dr. Smith records it as a rare fish at Woods Hole, Mass. ; it is not observed 

 there every year. All specimens recorded in that region have been taken in Sep- 

 tember, in Buzzards Bay traps, and have weighed 5 or 6 pounds. The fish appears 

 to have been more common 30 years ago than at present. 



Dr. Mitchill found in the stomach of his specimen 20 spotted Sand Crabs and 

 several young Flounders. This fish was 31 inches long; it was eaten at his table 

 and pronounced one of the best he had ever tasted. 



The Crabeater inhabits warm seas ; it is common on our Atlantic coast in sum- 

 mer, especially in Chesapeake Bay and southward. It ranges northward to Cape 

 Cod. It is abundant in the East Indies. The fish reaches the length of 5 feet. 

 The young have the caudal fin rounded instead of notched as in the adult. 



Family CORYPHiENIDiE. Dolphins. 



141. Common Dolphin {CorypJicena Jiippiiriis Linnaeus). 



The Common Dolphin is a pelagic fish, ranging northward on our east coast to 

 Cape Cod ; it is abundant from South Carolina to Texas. It grows to the length of 

 6 feet, and is a good food fish. It is remarkable also for its beautiful coloration and 

 for the changing hues through which it passes while dying. 



Mitchill describes this fish under the name of the Common Coryphene. DeKay 

 styles it the Bottle-headed Dolphin ; his description was based upon a specimen 42 

 inches long, captured off the harbor of New York. An example 17 inches long 

 was caught off Sandy Hook by a trolling line while fishing for Bluefish, late in 

 August, 1897. 



