FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION, 433 



Family STROMATEID^. Fiatolas. 



143. Harvest Fish ; Pappy Fish {Rlionibus paru Linnceus). 



The Harvest Fish is found on the South Atlantic coast of the United States and 

 in the West Indies. It ranges northward to Cape Cod, and occurs also in Jamaica 

 and Brazil. It grows to the length of 9 inches. 



Mitchill found this fish in New York Bay and described it in 181 5 ; he called it 

 the Harvest Fish. DeKay describes and figures it as the Long Finned Harvest 

 Fish. He states that it is not so common as the Butter Fish, but is equally 

 esteemed for eating. 



The Harvest Fish is a summer visitor in Gravesend Bay; it is sometimes rare 

 but was formerly abundant. 



Dr. Smith records it as a fish that is usually rare, but occasionally common at 

 Woods Hole, Mass. As a rule only 3 or 4 are taken in a season, but one year 300 

 or 400 were obtained. It is seen chiefly in June and July, in company with Butter 

 Fish. This is a small but valuable food fish. 



144. Butter Fish {Poronotiis triacantluis Feck). 



The Butter Fish occurs on the East coast from Maine to Florida. It is very 

 abundant northward, but rare and found in deep water south of Cape Hatteras. It 

 grows to the length of 10 inches and is highly prized for food. 



Mitchill called it the Cryptous Broad Shiner. DeKay says it appears in New 

 York waters about the first of July and has been caught in fykes in the harbor of 

 New York as late as October 12. He was informed that when this fish is taken 

 out of the water at night it emits vivid phosphoric flashes. 



About Cape Cod this fish is called Sheepshead and Skip Jack. In Connecticut 

 it is styled Pumpkin Seed, and at Norfolk, Star Fish. 



Ayres, writing in 1841, stated tliat the fish is very rare in the Avaters of Long 

 Island. On May 22, he saw 3 of them and captured i ; it was scarcely known to 

 the fishermen. In Gravesend Bay the fish occurs from April to November. Adults 

 were taken in the Atlantic, off Southampton, August I and 30, 1898. 



A few years ago this fish was little esteemed, but it is now considered a valuable 

 food fish. The young are to be found in the summer months swimming at the 

 surface in sheltered bays and frequently under the shelter of the streamers of Jelly 

 Fishes where they are sometimes destroyed by the lasso cells of their host. 

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