The Lamar register., 1899-03-29
Interesting rish from Aiabam. Coast

Interesting Fish fram AiAbams Coast.
In November. 1885, the URited States
FISH commission received from Col. d.
E Huger a well-known business man
OF Mobile. Ala. specimen OF ish that
was not only strange TO the local fish
ermen. but had never before been OBJ
served on the United States coast, 50
far as available records show. The
fish had been taken about twenty miles
south of Mobile harbor The form OF
the species is so characteristic that its
Identity is readily discsrnihle. though
few students OF fishes have ever had an
opportunity to examine fresh speci-
mems II has no vernaculaT name sI-
cept Cuban one tlnosa. II is. however.
a species OF ereyalle or cayaily, OF
which there are several common rep
resentatiyes along the Atlantic sea-
board. and It bears the technical name
of Carznx luguhris
The accompanying drawing. based on
the specimen referred to. gives a good
idea OF the general form OF the spe-
cies. The broad body is much com
pressed. as In other members Of the
genus. The large, deep head presents
a swelling on the median line above
and projecting snout The mouth is
large and the hsh 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 tormins
a yiIliform band. while the outer are
large and conicai. in the lower jaw
there is row Of large cunieal teeth
interspersed with smaller ones: furth-
ermore, there are teeth on the tongue.
the vomer and the palatine bones The
large eye is provided with fatty eye
lid. Both the second dorsal and the
anal fms are falcate. and the peetorals
are exceedingly long and sickle shaped.
As to color. the entire body OF this hsh
Is a uniform sooty black, the yentral.
anal and dorsal fms being Intensely
black The usual length attained BY
the species Is IL feet; the Alabama
specimen was little more than two
feet
This FISH inhabits chiefly the shores
of rocky, tropical islands. and Is found
OF both the east and west coasts Of
the western hemisphere In the Pa
cific ocean 1t is recorded from one of
the Reyillagigedo islands. lying of
Mexico. On the Atlantic coast II has
heretofore been observed only about
Cuba, but 1t will probably in time be
found near other West Indian Islands.
Specimens supposed TO be this species
have occasionally been taken at Ascen-
sion island, in the South Pacific, and
also In the mid-Pacifc. The fish
taken on Mobile. nearly 500 miles north
Of Cuba, was evidently a straggler from
that island
The fish was first recognized as dis
tinct by the late Prof. Felipe Poey, of
Havana, and described by him from
Cuba. in 1860. 1t is reported to be
common about Cuba Prof Poey
chose an appropriate name when he
designated this species lugubris, mean
ing mournful. which applies to its som
ber color, bad reputation, and supposed
gastronomic effects Like a number
of other fishes Of tropical waters, it
is reported to be poisonous, and its
sale in Cuba has long been prohibited.
A related species (Caranx Iatus) has
from time immemorial been excluded
from the markets OF Cuba, and many
disastrous cases OF illness have been
attributed to its u.s. SingularIy
enough, other species OF this genus are
regarded as excellent food fishes, and
are extensively eaten in Florida and
other southern states.
The local name, tlnosa, meaning
scabby or scurvy, and hence anything
that is repulsiye or repugnant, ex-
presses the prevailing idea regarding
the fish; the dreaded disease, ciguar-
terra, caused by eating poisonous fish, is
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 he
has eaten the tinosa and found it good
The prejudice against the species may
thus be uniust or it is possible that
the toxic properties ascribed to it de
pend not on any Inherent qualities Of