THE SCUPPANG. 



The common scup, scuppang or porgee 

 {Stenotomus chrysops) is one of the Sparoid 

 fishes and belongs in the same family with 

 the sheepshead. It is a saltwater fish, found 

 abundantly on our Atlantic coast, from 

 Cape Cod to South Carolina. It attains a 

 length of about a foot or 18 inches and a 

 weight of 4 pounds, though the usual 

 weight is less than 2 pounds. 



This fish is somewhat erratic in its ap- 

 pearance on our coast. While it is usu- 

 ally quite abundant, it has, during some 

 years, been excessively so; yet during 

 other years it has appeared only in small 

 numbers. It usually reaches the New 

 England coast late in April or early in 

 May, remaining throughout the summer 

 and disappearing in October or November. 



The scuppang is largely a bottom feeder, 

 its principal food being the smaller mol- 

 lusks. It will take the hook freely, and, 

 although not regarded as a game fish, it 

 easily occupies an important place as a de- 

 licious food fish. 



The name " Scuppang " seems to be de- 

 rived from " Mishcuppanog," which was 

 the Indian name of this fish. Roger Will- 

 iams speaks of it as the " mushcup, or 

 bream," and says: " Of this fish there is 

 abundance, which the natives dry in the 

 sun, and smoke, and some English begin 

 to salt. Both ways they keep all the year 

 round, and it is hoped they may be as well 

 accepted at the market as the cod, and bet- 

 ter if once known." 



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AMATEUR PHOTO BY S. W. HOLM. 



THE FIRST LESSON. 



Please send me the names and addresses 

 of all the sportsmen of your acquaintance, 

 in order that I may send them sample 

 copies of Recreation. 



'Tis piping hot; but on the bough 

 The katy-did her lyre is plunkin' ; 



And by that sign, six weeks from now 

 The frost will nip the golden punkin. 



275 



