438 REPORT OF THE 



155- Sea Bass iCentropristes st7'iatus Linnaeus). 



The Sea Bass was described by Mitchill under the name Perca varia. DeKay 

 names it the Black Sea Bass. He states that it is one of the most savory and 

 delicate fishes which appear in New York markets from May until July. He says 

 it is sometimes called Blue Fish, Black Ha?-ry, Hannahills and Black Bass. 



The Sea Bass is found from Vineyard Sound southward, its southern limit 

 probably not extending below Cape Hatteras. It is distinguished for its voracity 

 and persistent biting. The young are found in channels of shallow bays and about 

 wharves and landings, while large fish frequent the off-shore banks, where the 

 bottom is rocky, or the vicinity of wrecks. Their food consists of shrimp, crabs, 

 sea worms, squid, small fishes, and all other animals of suitable size. The fish is 

 sluggish in its habits and hides in rock crevices like the Tautog. It breeds in the 

 summer months and the young grow rapidly. 



The Sea Bass appears in Gravesend Bay in May ; it is not abundant there. 

 The young, measuring 15^ to 2 inches long, are found in the eel grass in October. 

 Adults were abundant about 2 miles off shore at Southampton in August, 1898. 

 Half-grown fish were caught at Islip, August 18, and young were moderately 

 common at several localities near Fire Island Inlet and at Nichols's Point. The 

 young were extremely scarce during the summer of 1901. Most of the individuals 

 taken were caught in eel pots. 



156. Soapfish {Rhypticus bistrispinus Mitchill). 



The Soapfish is given by Mitchill under the name of Bodiamis bistrispinus. He 

 had it from the Straits of Bahama. The fish inhabits the South Atlantic coast of 

 the United States in rather deep water. It is most abundant off Charleston, Pensa- 

 cola and Key West, and occasionally ranges as far north as Newport, Rhode Island. 

 It is a small fish of no value for food, but interesting because of a soapy secretion 

 which exudes from its skin. 



Family LOBOTIDiE. Triple Tails. 



157. Flasher; Triple Tail {Lobotcs surinainensis Bloch). 



The Flasher is found in all warm seas, ranging north on our coasts to Cape Cod, 

 south to Panama, and straying occasionally to the Mediterranean. It is not verj^ 

 common. It is a good food fish but of rather sluggish habits. The species grows 

 to the length of 3 feet. 



Mitchill described the fish under the name of Triple-tail Perch from a specimen 

 taken at Powles Hook, New Jersey. 



