NOTES ON FISHES COLLECTED IN FLORIDA IN 1892. 
215 
45 . Seriola dumerili (Risso). Almicore. Not common. Occasionally taken by fisbermen when 
trolling for kingfisb along the Florida keys. Said to be a fair food-fish, but not utilized at 
Key West. Grows to 50 pounds or more. One specimen from Key AVest. 
46 . Seriola lalandi Cuvier & A^aleuciennes. Amicr Jack. Not common along the keys and reefs, 
where it is taken by kingfisher men, trolling. It is a tolerably fair food-fish and grows very 
large, 75 pounds or more. Examples secured at Key AA^est. 
47 . Oligoplites saurus (Bloch & Schneider). Lealher Jack. Common at Key AA^est, where it is 
caught from the wharves by boys with hook and line. The smallest of the “jacks.” It is 
a pretty, graceful, and lively fish, but of no importance economically. The name “leather 
jacket” has soinehow crept into the books as the name of this fish, but it is never called so in 
Florida; that name is sometimes applied to species of BaUsiidoc, but 0. saurus is always 
“leather jack.” Specimens from Key AA^est. 
POMATOMID.®. 
48 . Pomatomus saltatrix (Linn.). Bluefish. Not common on the west coast, but rather common on 
the east coast of Florida. It is shipped to a limited extent from Tampa during the winter, 
and finds a ready sale, as it is considered a lino food-fish. It is of finer flavor in Florida than 
in northern waters. Specimens from Tampa. 
CORYPHiENIDill. 
49. Coryphaeiia hippurus Linn. Dolphin. Not imcommon along the reefs of Florida. I secured 
several fine examples at Key AA^est, but at a time when the supply of ice was exhausted for a 
few days, in consecpience of which they reached AVashington too soft for molding. 
HOLOCENTRIDiE. 
50. Holocentrus ascensionis (Osbeck). Squirrel-fish. Not common. Occasionally taken along 
the keys. It is a good food-fish, but Jiot plentiful enough to be of any importance. It is a 
very handsome fi.sh, being bright crimson, with brilliant silver stripes along the sides. Several 
examples obtained at Key AA^est. 
CENTROPOMID.®. 
51 . Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch). Snook; Bovallia. Common in bays and estuaries of both 
coasts and ascending streams. A voracious fish, growing to a weight of 25 or 30 xiounds. A 
fairly good table fish, but is not held in much esteem in Florida. Unless skinned, it is apt to 
have a soajiy or slimy taste. It is a good game-fish, readily taking a gaudy fly, troll, or 
natural bait, .and is a vigorous fighter when hooked. Coloration bright silvery, greenish on 
dorsum, with a broad black stripe along the lateral line. Examples from Tanijia. 
SERRANID^. 
52 . Ceiitropristis striatus (Linn.). Blackfish. Rare on the west coast, but not uncommon on the 
east coast of Florida. I secured two siiecimens at Tampa, where it is occasionally brought by 
the fishermen. 
53 . Diplectrum, formosum (Linn.). Sandfi,sh. Common about the southern keys. A jiretty little 
jian fish of good quality, but too small to be sought after. Examples from Key AA^est. 
54 . Promicrops guttatus (Linn.). Spotted Jeufish. Common along ihe Florida keys. Grows to an 
enormous size, reaching, it is said, 500 j)ounds. An excellent food-fish, and one much esteemed 
at Key AAmst, where it is sold in steaks, which are fried in batter. Usually brought to market 
weighing from 20 to 150 xiounds. I had not seen this “ jewfish ” before, my former ex]ierience 
l)eiug confined to the black jewfish (E. 'nif/ritus). At Key AA^'est I saw some twenty exanqiles, 
ranging from 20 to 200 ]iounds, and shixix’ed two to AA^ashington of 60 and 100 x'»ounds, 
resx^ec lively. 
55 . Mycteroperca falcata (Poey). Scamp. Common along the Florida keys, and considered a good 
food-fish. It is taken by trolling along the keys and by bait fishing on the suax^x^er banks. 
It averages about 6 x>ounds, often reaching 10. Sx)ecimens from Key AVest. 
