376 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
when full of roe, being then quite fat and a delicious fish broiled. It spawns in Oc- j 
tober and IsTovember in brackish water. Its usual weight is a pound or two, as taken | 
at the fishing ranches. The most abundant fish on the Florida coast. i- 
The Pickens Ranch at Gasparilla was the only one in operation during my trip. || 
They were taking mullet and sheepshead, with red -fish and salt-water trout, and salt- 
ing them for the Cuban market during the Lenten season. 
37. Mugil trichodon Poey. Fan-tail Mullet. i 
Key West. Three young specimens. 
38. Querimana gyrans Jordan & Gilbert. Little Mullet. 
Marco ; Gordon’s Pass ; Myakka River. This pigmy mullet is abundant in most' | 
of the inlets and bays of the southwest coast. ’ | 
ATHBRINIDiE. 
i 
.li 
39. Atherina stipes Muller & Troscliel, Sardine, i > 
Card’s Sound ; Barnes’ Sound. Very common in the -shallow waters of the sounds ; 
and of Florida Bay at the southern extremity of the peninsula. It is a good bait for 
any of the large surface-feeding fishes. | j 
40. Labidesthes sicculus Cope. Duck-bill Silversides. J i 
Myakka River. This is the southernmost record of this widely distributed species.* | 
41. Menidia vagrans Goode & Beau. Silversides. ^ I 
Barnes’ Sound ; Cape Sable Creek ; Cape Romano ; Marco. This and the next’ 
species of silversides are abundant in the shallow portions of all bays visited. 
42. Menidia peninsnlae Goode & Bean. Silversides. ' 
Barnes’ Sound ; Marco; San Carlos Pass; Big Gasparilla; Myakka River; Bigj|j 
Sarasota Bay ; Long Boat Key. 
43. .Spliyreenapicuda (Block & Schneider). Barracuda. 
Card’s Sound ; Key West; west coast of Florida. The shallow waters between 
the Florida Keys and the mainland seem to be the favorite feeding or breeding grounds 
of this formidable fish, I saw numerous specimens fully 6 to 7 feet long, and several 
of this size were speared by my pilot, a native of Key West, who was very expert in 
the use of the two-pronged spear or ‘‘ grains.” It is a favorite food-fish with Key i 
West people, and is usually taken with the “ grains.” | 
ECHBNEIDIDiB. I 
III 
44. Echeneis iiaucrates Linuseus. Shark Sucker. m 
in 
Lemon Bay; Sarasota Bay; Garden Key. From one to half a dozen specimens of p 
this fish, from 6 to 12 inches in length, are usually attached to sharks, and permit 
themselves to be taken from the water with their host when captured on the grains or 
with a shark-line. 
While at anchor in Sarasota Bay I noticed several large qnes attached to the rudder I 
and stern-post of ray boat. With a baited hook I soon caught them all, as they are 
very voracious, and will take anything in the way of fish or flesh bait. They were 
fully 2 feet long. When affixed by the “ sucking disk ” (a modification of the dorsal u 
