212 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
SYNODONTIDiE. 
16. Synodus foeteiis (Linn.). Lizard-fish. Common on both coasts and along tlie keys in sandy situa- 
tions. Grows to a foot or more in lengtli. Not used as food. I obtained S])ecnneus at Key 
West and Tampa. 
MURJENIDiE. 
17. Gymnothorax funebris Ranzaui. Green Moray. Not uncommon about the Florida keys. It 
grows to 6 or 8 feet in length, is very strong and vigorous, and as active and sliiipery as an 
eel. It is much dreaded by tlie fishermen when caught on their lines, being very ferocious 
and combative. It has been known to drive a man overboard to escape its terrible teeth, 
its bite being believed to be poisonous. It is never eaten. Its beautiful hriglit green 
coloration resides in the slime with which it is covered, anl which disappears when this 
is removed, leaving the skin of a muddy, brownish-black color. I obtained three specimens 
at Key West, each some 5 feet in length, one of which was caught with hook and line from 
the wharf. 
18 . Gymnothorax moringa (Cuvier). Speckled Moray. Rather common along the Florida keys. 
Does not grow so large as the green moray, and is not held in such common detestation, perhaps 
owing to its beautiful coloration, which, while varying somewhat in dift’ereut specimens, is 
always pretty in the variegated spots, reticulations, and markings. I obtained several examples 
at Key West, from 2 to 3 feet in length. 
SCOMBERESOCID.S3. 
19 . Tylosurus raphidoma (Ranzaui). Hound. Common along the keys and reefs. Grows to a length 
of 3 or 4 feet. It obtains the name of “hound” from its habit of running in schools and 
leaping along the surface of the water. -It is larger than the other species of the genus, and, 
like the othens, is a fair food-fish, though seldom utilized in Florida. Specimens from Key 
West. 
20. Tylosurus notatus (Poey). Needle-fish. Very common along the coasts and keys in schools. 
Grows to 2 feet in length. Specimens from Key West and Tam 2 )a. 
21. Hemirhamphus balao Le Sueur. Ballyhoo. Abundant about Key West and along the coasts, 
running in schools. It reaches a iengih of 15 to 18 inches, and is a fair food-fish, though no 
use is made of it in Florida. The other species of “half-beaks” are also abundant, and all 
are called “ballyhoo” by the fishermen. Specimens from Key West. 
SYNGNATHIDiE. 
22. Hippocampus hudsonius De Kay. Sea Horse. Common in the shallow bays of the west coast 
in grassy situations. Grows to a length of 6 or 7 inches. I jirocured several large exam]des 
at Tam}ia. Rings, 11 -j- 32. Dorsal fin with 18 rays, covering 31 rings. 
MUGILIDiE. 
23. Mugil cephalus Linn;eus. Mullet. Very abundant on all shores of Florida . I obtained some fine 
large STiecimens at Tamjia, whence large quantities are shij^iied on ice during the winter, 
jirincipally to the Southern States. In Florida it is esteemed very highly in the autumn, when 
in roe, and all things considered is the most important food-fish of the State. At the fishing 
ranches of the west coast it is cure I and salted in the fall and early winter, and shi^jped to 
Key West and Cuba. It reaches a weight of several jmunds, and sjjawns 2 )riuci 2 ially in 
November. I have often watched them coming in the jiasses and inlets on the flood tide, feed- 
ing along the shore like droves of hogs. Their manner of feeding is jieculiar. They move 
slowly along, never stoiiiiing, taking a moxithful of sand from the sharply cut banks of the 
inlets, and blowing it out again, retaining the minute organisms contained therein. They 
also feed about the sand banks and mud flats of the bays and streams. 
24. Mugil curema Cuvier & Valenciennes. Silrer Mullet. Not nearly so common as the jireceding 
sjiecies, and frequents deexier water. It sjiawns somewhat later in the season than the 
common mullet, and is its equal if not its su^ierior as a food-fish. Siiecimeus from Tampa. 
