Part 23 (1/2)

THE ROSE-FISH.

This fish on the Pacific coast is known as the Rock-Cod or Rock-fish.

They are found in great abundance on the southern coast of California.

THE TREE-FISH.

The Tree-fish is also found on the coast of California and is beautifully colored and marked.

THE PIKE AND MUSKELLUNGE.

The Pike is a fish of the North; it is abundant, however, as far south as Ohio.

The Muskellunge is found in the Great Lakes region and St. Lawrence River. It is similar to the Pike.

THE PICKEREL.

The Pickerels, another group of this family, are much smaller fishes.

The Chain Pickerel, so called on account of the peculiar chain-like markings on its sides, is found in streams along the Atlantic coast. The Brook Pickerel is of a similar variety. This variety of fish are not particular as to their diet; they will eat nearly all other kinds of fish, frogs, rats, mice, and even young ducks. They lay in wait for their prey and take it with a spring.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MUSKELLUNGE.]

THE SEA ROBINS.

The Sea Robins are a nuisance to fishermen, stealing their bait. They are also known as sculpins, grub, bullhead, seatoad, pig-fish. They feed upon the animal life at the bottom of the water. Owing to their ugly appearance their spines are rumored to give a poisonous wound. They are capable of inflicting a painful injury, but not a poisonous one.

THE HALIBUT.

The Halibut is a cold-water fish. These fish at times reach an enormous size and there are traditions of fish having been caught that weigh over 600 pounds. They lie upon the bottom, and because of their flat body, which is similar in color to that of the sand, they are able to ambush their prey.

THE FLOUNDER.

The Plaise, Summer Flounder, or Turbot Flounder. This is a fish abundant upon the eastern coast of the United States. They feed upon small fish, crabs, squids, sand-eels, etc. Large quant.i.ties of these fish are sold in the markets of New York.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FLOUNDER.]

THE COD-FISH.

The Cod-fish; the waters off the coast of New England formerly abounded in this fish, but now only stragglers are to be caught. From the stomachs of Cod-fish sh.e.l.ls of all kinds have been taken, as well as many miscellaneous objects, such as rings, scissors, corn-cobs, oil cans, and other incongruous things of this kind. The Tom-Cod is a small cod-fish seldom a foot in length.

[Ill.u.s.tration: COD-FISH.]