DISTRIBUTION OF THE BONITO. 317 



of which have been detected in our waters since 187G, but the fish which most frequently 

 and in greatest numbers approaches our shores is the one which is named at the head of this 

 section. Almost nothing- is known of its habits, and it is even impossible to define its geographical 

 lange with any degree of certainty, its distribution being quite unlike that of any other fish with 

 which we are acquainted. It may be said, however, that it is found only in the Atlantic Ocean. 

 On our coast it is found in summer between Cape May and Cape Sable, though rarely north of Cape 

 Ann ; ' occasionally oft' Cape Hatteras and the mouth of the Chesapeake and in the Gulf of Mexico. 

 Specimens have been taken about the Canaries and Madeira, at the Cape of Good Hope and in 

 the Mediterranean. It has not been observed on the coast of Europe north of Gibraltar, nor at the 

 Bermudas. 



This tish does not appear to have been abundant in former years: it attracted but, little atten- 

 tion in our waters before LS(iO, although it was alluded to in 1815 by Mitchill, in 1841} by DeKay, 

 and in 1850 by Gill; none of these authors, however, seem to have regarded it as at all abundant. 2 



A note from Prof. J. Hammond Trumbull states: "This fish used to be quite common, in some 

 years, in the Stoniiigtoii market. I have a note of a considerable number in market July 22, 1842, 

 their first appearance for the season." 



Storer remarked in 1840: "This species, called by the fishermen in Boston market the 'Skip- 

 jack,' and by those at the extremity of Cape Cod the 'Bonito,' is very rarely met with in Massa- 

 chusetts Bay. It is occasionally taken at Provincetown. and even at Lynn. At some seasons it is 

 frequently caught at Martha's Vineyard with trailing bait." 



During the past ten or fifteen years they have become exceedingly abundant about Block 

 Island and the eastern end of Long Island. 3 Fabulous quantities are taken in the pound-nets. 



'August li, 1H7C), Captain Webb, of Milk Island, took seventy-three Bouitos in his weir, and August 7 twenty- 

 fight morn in an eight-inch gill-net. 



-The, following extracts from the journal of one, of the earliest settlers of New England may refer either to this 

 tish or to one of the smaller species of Tunny : 



"1635, JULY 18 [near Newfoundland]. Saturday, wind northwest, a fair, cool day. We saw this morning a 

 great many of Bouitoes leaping and playing about the ship. Bonito is a fish somewhat bigger than a eod, but h-ss 

 than a porpoise.' 1 Mather's Journal. Young's Chronicles of the First Planters of Massachusetts Buy Colony. Boston: 

 1840, p. 464. 



"163;">, JULY 21 [near Newfoundland]. Tuesday morning, a great calm after a hot night. This morning our 

 seamen took a Bouito and opened him upon the deck; of which, being dressed, our master sent Mathew Michel and 

 me part, as good tish in eating as could be. desired. About noou the wind became northeast, good for our purpose, 

 so that we went that afternoon nine or ten leagues a watch." Mather's Journal. Young's Chronicles of tin First 

 Planters of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Boston : 1S40, p. 464. 



3 BONITA. We did not say half enough the other day about the new visitor in our bay, the Ilonita. If it shall 

 become plentiful in our waters, as it, promises to be, it will become a most valuable article of food. A correspondent, 

 whose opinion upon matters of this kind is ultimate, writes: "Your article on the Bouita is every word true; pray, 

 have your attention turned to tish, the great questiou (economical) of the day. Last night I had a fish on my table 

 which they suid was a kind of Spanish mackerel : the moment I tasted it. I said it was a Bnnita, having eaten it thirty 

 years since, on my tirst voyage to India, and the taste had never been forgotten. It is the salmon of the sea. Mark 

 its solidity ot'llesh, its great weight, its purity of taste, entire absence of the slightly decayed taste all tish has during 

 warm weather. It is as nourishing as beef." The remainder of the note is "strictly confidential," and so was the 

 basket which accompanied it with the choicest treasure of the sea covered with the greenest, leaves of the land. We 

 certify from actual experiment that Bonita is the worthy rival of the Spanish mackerel, the Khecpshead, and the 

 salmon. We are pleased, to ([note it in our household market report at the more reasonable price of twenty cent.-, a 

 pound. Providence Journal, July, 1H71. 



The people of Rhode Island are happy in consequence of the appearance in their wat ITS of that excellent fish, the 

 Bonita. This fish is esteemed superior to the Spanish mackerel, and nearly equal in flavor to the salmon. It has not 

 lieen known in Rhode Island waters until recently; now it is so plentiful that it is sold in the Providence lish markets 

 at twenty cents per pound. (icrmantown Telegraph. August 2,1*71. 



THK BONITA. Mr. John r'lynn, of the Citizens' Market, yesterday received another supply of that new and 

 dainty fish, the Bonita, and those who have not yet tasted of this worthy rival of the Spanish mackerel, the sheeps- 

 head, and the salmon, will do well to call at his market to-day and obtain one of these rare visitors. Providence 

 Journal, 1871. 



