HABITS OF WEST INDIAN WHITEBAIT. 
AUSTIN H. CLARK. 
Tur “tri-tri” or West Indian whitebait (Sicydium plumieri), 
although of small size, is one of the important food fishes of 
these islands. It is an inhabitant of the mountain streams, 
and occurs in the quiet pools and eddies formed by the back- 
water from rapids, from the lowlands well up into the highlands. 
Its range is about the same on St. Vincent as that of the 
“trout” (Agonostomus monticola), and, like that fish, it is 
absent from certain of the rivers. 
The tri-tri reminds one strongly of the common darter (o/eo- 
soma nigrum olmsteadi) in habits. They are usually observed 
lying motionless on the sandy bottom of pools, head up stream. 
They will lie in one position for a long while, then, with a sud- 
den jerk, move to another place. If disturbed they dart quickly 
under the overhanging banks, or under rocks or logs in the 
stream. When seen on sandy bottom, the color of these fishes 
is a very light brownish gray, with seven or eight transverse 
bands of darker. If over dead leaves, or on darker masses of 
rock, they are a violet brown, the transverse bands being nearly 
black. They harmonize so well with their surroundings that 
they are distinguishable by a careful examination only. The 
adults measure from 31 to 41 inches in length. In the waters 
where this fish occurs there is a small slender crayfish, of the 
same size and color, which is very easily mistaken for it. This 
crustacean has the same habit of lying for a long while in one 
position, then suddenly moving to another, and, if disturbed 
takes refuge under the banks or under stones in the same way. 
They may usually be distinguished by the fact that they move 
tail first, and then occasionally crawl slowly on the bottom; 
they also are much commoner near the sources of the rivers, 
above the range of the tri-tri. : 
In the dry season, the adult tri-tri migrate down stream to 
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