Percomorphi 263 



about the Santa Barbara Islands, where it runs in great schools 

 in March. The flesh of the albacore is of little value, unless, 

 as in Japan, it is eaten raw. The Japanese shibi (Germo germo) 

 is another large albacore, having the finlets bright yellow. It is 

 found also at Hawaii. 



The bonito (Sarda sarda) wanders far throughout the Atlan- 

 tic, abounding on our Atlantic coast as in the Mediterranean, 

 coming inshore in summer to spawn or feed. Its flesh is red 

 and not very delicate, though it may be reckoned as a fair food- 



Fio. 207. The Long-fin Albacore, Germo alalunga (Gmelin). Gulf Stream. 



fish. It is often served under the name of " Spanish mackerel " 

 to the injury of the reputation of the better fish. 



Professor Goode writes: 



"One of these fishes is a marvel of beauty and strength. 

 Every line in its contour is suggestive of swift motion. The 

 head is shaped like a minie bullet, the jaws fit together so 

 tightly that a knife-edge could scarcely pass between, the eyes 

 are hard, smooth, their surfaces on a perfect level with the 

 adjoining surfaces. The shoulders are heavy and strong, the 

 contours of the powerful masses of muscle gently and evenly 

 merging into the straighter lines in which the contour of the 

 body slopes back to the tail. The dorsal fin is placed in a 

 groove into which it is received, like the blade of a clasp-knife 

 in its handle. The pectoral and ventral fins also fit into depres- 

 sions in the sides of the fish. Above and below, on the pos- 

 terior third of the body, are placed the little finlets, each a little 

 rudder with independent motions of its own, by which the 

 course of the fish may be readily steered. The tail itself is a 



