184 FOREST #AgN'D ST RE [FEB. 3, 1906. 
SEA AND RIVER FISHING 









Some Florida Fishes. 
WE describe here some of the chief game fishes 
of Florida. The notes on fishing have been con- 
tributed by Dr. James A: Henshall, whose rich 
store of knowledge has been gained by long ex- 
perience on Florida waters. 
THE SPANISH MACKEREL (Scomberomorus ma- 
culatus.)—This handsome and active fish is some- 
times styled mackerel and bay mackerel. It 1s 
found in summer,as far, north as. Cape Cod. 
Southward it extends to the Gulf of Mexico. It 
has been recorded in the West Indies and on the 
coast of Brazil. Silas Stearns mentions. speci- 
mens measuring forty inches, but these large fish : 
were generally solitary; twenty-four. inches is a THE SPANISH MACKEREL. 
fair average size. ; 
“The Spanish mackerel is one of the best food 
fishes as well as one of the most beautiful in form 
and coloration. It swims in schools and is a 
surface feeder. I have.seen it as early as Janu- 
ary in Florida. The leaping of a Spanish mack- 
erel while feeding on a bright day is a beautiful 
sight, but the fish are shy and difficult to ap- 
proach in a boat for rod-fishing; therefore, on 
open waters, trolling -with a long line is more 
successful, for which small pearl or bright metal 
squids, or the pilchard, anchovy or small mullets 
may be used. 
“The most successful rod-fishing is from the 
points of inlets and passes, and from the end of 
long piers in the tide-ways. Ordinary black bass 
tackle may be used, as the inshore schools do not 
often run above two or three pounds in weight. 
For baits any of the small fishes just named are 
suitable. The mode of fishing is by making as 
long casts as possible, and slowly reeling in the 
bait, no sinker being used. 
“The Spanish mackerel takes the artificial fly 
pretty well. Grayish or yellowish fli¢s on No. 2 
Sproat hooks, and rods and other tackle made 
for black bass fly-fishing, are all that are needed 
for this, the most enjoyable and most sportsman- 
like method of angling for the Spanish mackerel. 
And it is a fish worthy of the fly-fisher’s highest 
regard, being very gamy and exceedingly beauti- 
ful. Its manner of fighting when fast to the 
angler’s hook is principally on the surface of the 
water—darting here and there with dazzling 
rapidity, in straight or curving lines, and leaping 
into the air—its bright form shining resplendent 
in the sunlight—like an animated silver arrow.” 
THE CERO (Scomberomorus regalis).—King 
cero, spotted cero, sierra and pintado, are the 
names for this species. The cero abounds in the 
West Indies, and has been recorded from Brazil 
On the east coast it migrates northward occa- 
sionally as far as Cape Cod. About the Florida 
keys it is very commonly associated with other 
species of the genus. The species reaches a 
length of five or six feet, and weighs up to 20 or 
30 pounds. It resembles the Spanish mackerel] 
in a general way, but may be immediately dis- 
tinguished by the narrow stripes along its sides, 
which are not present in any of the other Ameri- 
can species. 
“Its spots are dark, where those of the Span- 
ish mackerel are yellowish-bronze. The cero is 
caught in company with the kingfish by trolling 
along the Florida kevs from-Cape Florida to Key 
West, and they form the principal supply of food 
fishes in the Key West market, where both spe- 
cies are sold under the name of ‘kingfish.’ 
“The cero is sometimes caught from the 
wharves and piers of the Florida keys, or from 
anchored vessels by still-fishing, or rather by 
casting pilchard bait; but the usual’ and most 
successful method of fishing is by trolling with 
hand-line from a sailing vessel, using a small cod- 
fish hook baited with a strip of pork-rind cut in 
the semblance of a small fish. A wire snell is 
necessary on account of the sharp, lancet-shaped : 
teeth of these fishes. A bright metal, or a pearl THE COBIA. 


