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Lady-fish; Bone-fish; Banana-fish
This beautiful and active fish is almost universally distributed on sandy coasts in all tropical seas. It ranges northward as far as San Diego and Long Island, and is generally abundant. It is a fish of very attractive appearance, usually little valued as food, though in some places, as at Key West, it is held in high esteem. As a game-fish it is highly appreciated by those familiar with it. It resembles, in this respect, the ten-pounder.
The young of this species pass through a metamorphosis, analogous to that seen in the conger eels, the ten-pounder, and the awa. They for a time are elongate, band-shaped, with very small head and loose transparent tissues. From this condition they become gradually shorter and more compact, shrinking from 3 or 3 1/2 inches to 2 inches in length. In the Gulf of California where this species abounds, these band-shaped young are often thrown by the waves on the beach in great masses.
Head 3 3/4; depth 4; D. 15; A. 8; scales 9-71-7. Upper lobe of caudal the longer; a broad band of peculiar, elongate, membranaceous scales along middle line of back; accessory ventral scale large. Colour, brilliantly silvery on sides, olivaceous above; back and sides with faint streaks along the rows of scales; fins plain; axils dusky. Length 1 1/2 to 3 feet.