The Eddy current., 1899-04-08

Aaterestlns Fish from Alabama Coast
In November. 1898. the United states
Dish commission received from Col. d.
H. Huger, a woli-known business man
OF Mobile. Ala, a specimen OF fsh that
was not only strange 10 the local fsh-
ermen, but had never before been OBJ
served on the United States coast, no
far a. available records show. The
hsh had been taken about twenty miles
south OF Mobile harbor. The form OF
the species la 20 characteristic that It's
identity is readily dlscernlble, though
few students Of fishes have ever had an
opportunity to examine fresh speci-
mems. II has no vernacular name ox-
cept Cuban one tinosa; II 10, however,
. species OF crevalle or cavally, Of
which there are several common rep
resentativsa along the Atlantic sea-
board, and II bears the technical name
OF Caranx lugubrls.
The accompanying drawing. based on
the specimen referred 10, glvoa a good
idea OF the general form OF the spe-
eles. The broad body Ia much COM
pressed, as IN other members o. the
genus. The large deep head presents
a swelling on the median limo above
and projecting snout The mouth ia
large and the fsh is evidently vora-
cious feeder. The teeth, while not
prominent, are numerous and OF varied
shapes. In the upper Jaw there are
Two distinct rows, the inner forming
a vlliiform band, while the outer are
lerBe and conicai; in the lower Jaw
there ls row OF large conleal teeth
interspersed with smaller ones; furth-
ermoro, there are teeth on the tongue.
the vomef and the palatine bones. The
large eye is provided with a fatty eye
lid. Both the second dorsal and the
anal hns are faleate aud the pectorals
are exceedingly long and sickle shaped.
As 10 color, the entire body OF this iish
Ia uniform sooty black, the ventrai.
anal and dorsal flns being intensely
black. The usual length attained by
the species Is ~ feet; the Alabama
specimen was little more than two
feet.
This lsh inhablts chiefly tho shores
OK rocky. tropical islands, and is found
on both the east and west coasts Of
tho western hemisphere. In the Pa
olhc ocean Il is recorded from one Of
the Reyillaglgedo islands. lying of
Mexico. On the Atlantic coREt II has
heretofore been observed only about
Cuba. but II will probably 10 time bo
fonnd near other West Indian islands,
Specimens supposed to be thlh speclaA
have occasionally been taken at Ascen.
sion island. In the South Pacific, and
also in the mid-Paciflc. The nan
taken OF Mobile. nearly 800 miles north
Of Cuba. was evidently a strageler from
that island.
The fsh was hrst recognized as dis
tlnct by the late Prof. Felipe Poey, OF
Havana, and described by him from
Cuba, In 1850, II Is reported to he
common about Cuba. PFu1. Puey
chose an appropriate name when he
designated tlfs species lugubria. mean
ing mournfui, which applies " ita SOM
Der color, bad reputation, and supposed
gastronomlc effects. Like q number
OF other fishes OF tropical waters, Il
Is reported 10 be poisonous. and its
sale in Cuba has long been prohibited
A related species (Caranx lAtus) has
from time immemorial been excluded
from the markets OF Cuba. and many
disastrous cases OF illness have bsen
attributed 30 its use. Singularly
enough. other species Of this genus are
regarded az excellent food fishes, and
are extensively eaten Ia Florida and
other southern states.
The local name, tlnosa, meaning
scabby or scuryy. and hence anything
that Is repulslve or repugnant. ex-
presses the prevailing idea ragardins
the hsh; the dreaded disease, clguaF-
terra, caused by eating poisonous ash, Ia
also associated with this species IN the
popular mind. Poey himself. however
does not appear to have shared the
current belief. for he writes that no
has eaten the tinoaa and found Il good.
The prejudice against the species may
thus bo unjust, or Il ls possible that
the toxic properties ascribed 10 Il de-
pend not on any Inherent qualities OF
the hah. but on ptouiainea generated
BY a particular kind OF food or BY the
rapid decomposition 70 which the trop-