SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



rated from them is a narrow, longitudinal, dark streak running almost the entire dis. 

 tance from the pectoral to the caudal ; top of the head very dark; a dark blotch in 

 the axil of the pectoral ; gill covers and jaws silvery ; sides white with cupreous 

 reflections ; belly white. 



The Mackerel is one of the best known food fishes of the North Atlantic, ranging 

 from Norway to Spain in Europe and from Labrador to Cape Hatteras in North 

 America. It reaches the length of 18 inches. The fish is migratory and frequently 

 disappears for a short or long period of time from its accustomed localities. On the 

 New York coast the Mackerel appears in May and June in great schools, but the 

 number varies greatly in different years. 



Two young, 3%^ to $ l /2 inches long, were taken in Gravesend Bay, L. I., May 23, 

 1896, in John B. DeNyse's shad fyke. No more were seen, and these were the first 

 of the year. They come about the time of the appearance of Anchovy and Weak- 



COMMON MACKEREL. 



fish. They are often seen swimming at the surface of the bay in small bunches of 

 18 or 20, occasionally 100, in the latter part of May or early in June. They are 

 always split up into small bunches, probably by the attacks of Weakfish and other 

 predaceous species which are present at the time. Flukes attack them also in 

 shallow water. 



83. Chub Mackerel ; Thimble-Eye Mackerel (Scomber colias Gmelin). 



Scomber colias DEK.AY, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 104, pi. u, fig. 33, 1842. 



Scomber colias JORDAN & EVERMANN, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus., I, 866, 1896, pi. 



CXXXIII, fig. 364, 1900. 

 Scomber colias BEAN, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., IX, 360, 1897. 



Colors essentially the same as in Scomber scombrus, the wavy transverse bands 

 about 30 in number; sides mottled with small dusky blotches below the median 

 line ; about 20 black specks on base of preopercle, usually arranged in more than one 

 series ; belly and sides silvery ; a black blotch in axil of pectoral. 



