FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION, 439 



DeKay has the fish under the name oi' the Black Triple Tail, which he states 

 is a rare species in our waters. 



At Woods Hole, Mass., according to Dr. Smith, the fish is very rare. It was 

 recorded by Prof. Baird in 1871, and since then has been met with on only a few 

 occasions. Specimens were taken in August, 1873 ; December, 1875 ; September 

 20, 1886, and in August, 1890. The example taken September 20, 1886, was 2 feet 

 long ; it was from a trap at Menemsha. 



Family PRIACANTHIDiE. Catalufas. 



158. Big Eye {Priacantlnts arcnatus C. & V.). 



The Big Eye, or Catalufa, is a native of the tropical Atlantic, ranging south to 

 Brazil, and occasionally northward in summer to Cape Cod. It has also been 

 recorded from Madeira. 



This is a handsome fish, of a silvery red color, and with most of the fins 

 margined with black. It reaches the length of about 12 inches. 



Dr. Smith reports that 7 individuals were obtained at Woods Hole, Mass., in 

 September and October, 1876, after which time for several years 3 or 4 were caught 

 annually. A specimen 3^ inches long was taken at Quisset Harbor, October 2, 

 1888. 



The fish is known also from Newport, Rhode Island. 



159. Short Big-eye {Pscndopriacanthus alius Gill). 



The Short Big-eye is native in West Indian waters of moderate depth, ranging 

 northward to Pensacola and Charleston. The young occasionally stray north in 

 summer to Cape Cod. 



According to Dr. Smith it is rare at Woods Hole, Mass, and vicinity. It was 

 first taken there September 29, 1875, and again September 26, 1877. Several other 

 occurrences of the fish have been noted ; two small specimens were secured Novem- 

 ber 28, 1885. Storer has recorded it from Marblehead, Mass. An example was 

 caught in the Acushnet River, at New Bedford, November i, 1890. 



The fish was first described from Narragansett Bay. It is a strikingly beautiful 

 species, growing to the length of 1 1 inches. 



Family LUTIANID^. Snappers. 



160. Gray Snapper {Neomcenis griseus Linnaeus). 



The Gray Snapper is known also as Mangrove Snapper, Lawyer, and Caballerote, 

 It is most abundant in the West Indies and on our South Atlantic and Gulf of 



