THE SCUPPAUG AND THE FAIR MAID. 
99 
Brunswick, Ga., and about Key West, bears several other names, being 
known about Cape Hatteras as the “ Robin ” and “ Pin-fish,” at Charles¬ 
ton as the “ Salt-water Bream,” at Brunswick, Ga., as the “Squirrel- 
fish” and “Sailor’s Choice,” in the St. John’s River as the “Sailor’s 
Choice” and “ Porgy,” in the Indian River region as the “Sailor’s 
Choice,” “Scup,” and “Yellow-tail,” at Cedar Keys as the “Porgy ” 
and “Shiner,” and at Pensacola as the “ Chopa Spina.” 
South of Cape Hatteras this fish is exceedingly abundant, and is usually 
found in company with the sheepshead, which it much resembles in habits. 
Its jaws, however, are not so strong as those of the sheepshead, by reason 
of which it is debarred from feeding upon the stronger shelled mollusks 
and crustaceans, which constitute the principal diet of the latter. 
On the Atlantic coast the largest individuals rarely exceed ten inches in 
length, the ordinary size in Eastern Florida being six or eight inches, 
with the weight of five or six ounces. 
The Sailor’s Choice is one of the most deliciously flavored fishes of our 
coast, being preferred to the young sheepshead by many of those who are 
familiar with its good qualities. Lugger states that it enters the drains of 
the ocean coast of Maryland, and is occasionally caught in the lower part 
of the Chesapeake Bay. According to Jordan they are excessively abund¬ 
ant everywhere in the harbor of Beaufort, N. C., where they are taken by 
the thousand by boys with hook and line from the wharves, but are seldom 
used for food, and are found equally numerous through the Gulf States 
coast. 
At Charleston, according to Holbrook, this fish is taken at all seasons 
of the year, though most plentiful in May and June. No reference is 
made by this author to its value as an article of food. At Brunswick, 
Ga., the Sailor’s Choice is highly esteemed ; in the St. John’s it is very 
abundant, and is taken in company with the sheepshead far up the river. 
It is easily captured with hooks baited with shrimp, and is considered to 
be a very superior pan-fish, its flesh resembling that of the scuppaug, 
though much sweeter and harder. 
In the Indian River region, according to Mr. S. C. Clarke, this fish is 
resident all the year, and is very abundant. The weight of the largest 
observed by him was one pound. The average weight is about five ounces. 
They are found in the deep water, or salt water, feeding upon minnows, 
small crabs, and shrimps. The spawn is pale blue, and of the size of 
