3 86 
AMERICAN FISHES. 
“Hard-head Shad,” and in Eastern Connecticut “Bony Fish.” In 
Western Connecticut the species is usually known as the “White-fish,” 
while in New York the usage of two centuries is in favor of “ Mossbunker.” 
This name is a relic of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, having 
evidently been transferred from the “Scad,” or “Horse Mackerel,” 
Trcicliurus lacerta , a fish which visits the shores of Northern Europe in 
immense schools, swimming at the surface in much the same manner as 
our Menhaden, and known to the Hollanders as the “ Marsbanker.” 
New Jersey uses the New York name with its local variations, such as 
“Bunker” and “ Marshbanker.” In Delaware Bay, the Potomac and 
the Chesapeake, we meet with the “Alewife,” “ Bay Alewife,” “ Pilcher ” 
(Pilchard), and “Green-tail.” Virginia gives us “Bug-fish,” “Bug- 
head” and “Bug-shad,” referring to the parasitic crustacean found in 
the mouths of all Southern Menhaden. In North Carolina occurs the 
name “Fat-back,” which prevails as far south as Florida, and refers to 
the oiliness of the flesh. In this vicinity, too, the names “Yellow-tail” 
and “ Yellow-tail Shad ” are occasionally heard, while in Southern Florida 
the fish is called “ Shiner ” and “ Herring.” In South America, among 
the Portuguese, the name “ Savega ” is in use. On the St. John’s River, 
and wherever Northern fishermen are found, “Menhaden” is preferred, 
and it is to be hoped that this name will in time be generally adopted. 
A number of trade names are employed by the manufacturers in New 
Jersey who can this fish for food ; these are “American Sardine,” “Ameri¬ 
can Club-fish,” “ Shadine ” and “Ocean Trout.” 
The geographical range of Brevoortia tyrannies varies from year to year. 
In 1877 it was, so far as it is definable in words, as follows: The wander¬ 
ings of the species are bounded by the parallels of north latitude 25 0 and 
45 0 ; on the continental side by the line of brackish water; on the east 
by the inner boundary of the Gulf Stream. In the summer it occurs in 
the coastal waters of all the Atlantic States from Maine to Florida, in 
winter only south of Cape Hatteras. The limits of its winter migration 
oceanwards cannot be defined, though it is demonstrated that the species 
does not occur about the Bermudas or Cuba, nor presumably in the Carib¬ 
bean Sea. 
With the advance of spring, Menhaden appear near our coasts in com¬ 
pany with, and usually slightly in advance of, the other non-resident 
species, such as the Shad, Alewife, bluefish and squeteague. The follow- 
