SPOTTED EELS, CRAB EATERS, SURF WHITING, MOON FISH, LEATHER JACKETS,
TRIGGER FISH, AND MULLET
SPOTTED EEL (_Mystriophys intertinctus_)
There is something peculiarly snakelike about these yellow,
black-spotted eels, which are only found washed ashore after storms from
a certain quarter, and never, at any rate to my knowledge, take a baited
hook. There are many of these spotted eels in the waters round Florida
Keys, and one of them is known as the “sea-serpent.”
The small upper fish in the photograph is evidently a wrass of some
kind, probably a rock-cook (_Centrolabrus_), but as no one catches the
wrass, save by accident, I never studied them.
COBIA OR CRAB EATER (_Rachycentron canadus_)
This handsome and sporting fish is allied to the mackerel, and in some
parts, indeed, goes by the name of “bonito,” though the true bonito is
more closely related to the tunny. Its specific name is a good instance
of the singular inappropriateness of some such titles, for it does not
occur in Canada. The cobia grows to a length of four or five feet, and
is a dashing fish when hooked, though it is not very common in the
angler’s catch.
[Illustration: THE COBIA, A STRONG AND DASHING FISH.]
[Illustration: THE UPPER FISH IS A SURF WHITING, THE LOWER A MANGO
SNAPPER.]
SURF WHITING (_Menticirrhus littoralis_) AND MANGROVE SNAPPER
(_Neomaenis spec._)
The surf whiting, as its name implies, frequents the surf, where it is
caught like so many others on that coast; it takes mullet as bait.
The snapper, which is one of a very large group, derives its distinctive
name from the fact of the young, and sometimes the grown fish as well,
being found feeding in the neighbourhood of the mangroves.
SILVER MOON FISH OR LOOK DOWN (_Selene vomer_)
This eccentric-looking fish is of a beautiful mother-of-pearl tint, and
the long ray of the dorsal fin shows the subject of the photograph to be
a young fish, for this long growth is shed at a more mature age. The
moon fish makes capital bait for tarpon and other large fish, and the
wonder is, indeed, that such a species can survive at all, for it is to
all appearance both defenceless and slow in its movements.
[Illustration: A MOON FISH.]
[Illustration: A LEATHER JACKET, A QUAINT FISH ROUGH AS SANDPAPER, TOUGH
AS LEATHER, AND AS HARD AND THIN AS HALF-INCH BOARD.]
LEATHER JACKET (_Monacanthus hispidus_)
These leather jackets are found in most tropical seas, and with their
large sheeplike teeth they seize any bait left stationary at the bottom.
They are without true scales, the body being covered with roughnesses
instead. They are thin, tough fish, and of no use for food.
TRIGGER FISH (_Balistes carolinensis_) AND ANGEL FISH (_Angelichthys
isabelita_)
The trigger fish, like the last species figured, also goes by the name
of “leather jacket,” and is, as a glance at its general outline will
show, a similar type of fish. The trigger fish derives the name from the
curious arrangement of its dorsal fin, which lies flat in a socket or
slot. It has, like the last, no true scales, but excrescences, which can
be plainly seen in the photograph. It is not often taken on a hook.
The little angel fish is one of the most gaudy inhabitants of those
seas, where the usual preponderance of gaily coloured fish is hardly,
perhaps, so marked as in some other warm waters. It is found in shoals
round wrecks and sunken piles. Blue and yellow, with reddish and brown
and olive markings and spots, some varieties of the “angel” are
beautiful if somewhat gorgeous fish. If well angled for they can be
taken in quantities. These are among the many accidental arrivals in the
tarpon fisher’s boat, but I have thought it best to give as many
photographs of local fish as possible, so that the visitor with a liking
for natural history may not be at a loss to identify an occasional
strange fish, about which he wants to write to the proper authorities
for further information.
[Illustration: TRIGGER FISH--A LEATHERY DARK FISH WITH ROUGH
DIAMOND-SHAPED EXCRESCENCES INSTEAD OF SCALES.
ANGEL FISH, A DELICATE VERY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FISH.]
[Illustration: SILVER MULLET, RESTLESS WANDERERS, EVER SKIMMING IN
SHOALS ALONG THE COAST.]
SILVER MULLET (_Mugil brasiliensis_)
This is the less common of the two mullets found in those waters, and is
chiefly noteworthy as being _not_ the one in general use as bait. It is
taken only in nets, and not often in those, as its habit is to skirt the
shore, where shooting a net is attended with difficulties.