The Petos 



the Gulf Stream where the water is clearer. The large and smaller 

 one are almost invariably found in separate schools. 



The cero is usually caught by trolling and is justly regarded as one 

 of the greatest of all game-fishes. A stout braided line is best, though 

 laid cotton cod-lines are often used. A cod hook with long shank, 

 and a foot or 2 of stout copper or brass wire to withstand the 

 numerous sharp teeth are needed. For bait a strip of white bacon 

 rind, 5 to 8 inches long, cut to resemble a fish, with a slit in the upper 

 end and one in the middle through which it is placed on the hook, 

 the upper end being secured by a fine wire. A block tin squid or 

 a very heavy spinner is, however, a better lure. 



In lieu of anything better the hook may be wrapped with white 

 muslin ; tin foil, or anything that the fish can easily see, will answer 

 very well. As a fighter the cero is chiefly famous on account of the 

 marvellous leaps which he makes. Clearing the surface by 10 feet or 

 more is no unusual thing. And Dr. Henshall tells some marvellous 

 stories of its jumping powers, but it is fair to say he does not 

 vouch for them. 



Head 5; depth 6; eye large, 2 in snout; D. XV-I, ij-VIII; 

 A. II-I5-VIII; pectoral 5; gillrakers very short, less than half 

 diameter of eye, about 8 below angle. Mouth large, maxillary 

 reaching below eye; lateral line decending abruptly below second 

 dorsal; teeth triangular, strongly compressed, about 30 in each jaw. 

 Colour of adult, iron-gray, nearly or quite immaculate; young with 

 the sides with darker yellowish spots; no black blotch' on spinous 

 dorsal anteriorly. 



GENUS ACANTHOCYBIUM GILL 

 The Petos 



This genus differs from the other Scombroids in the large size of 

 the spinous dorsal, there being about 25 spines instead of 10 to 16 as 

 in the other genera. 



The only species is A. sohiihlri, known variously as peto, 

 wahoo, and guarapucu, a very large, mackerel-like fish, widely dis- 

 tributed in tropical seas. This great fish reaches our borders only in 

 the West Indies and among the Florida Keys. It reaches a length of 

 5 or 6 feet and a weight of 50 to 100 pounds, and is known to spawn 

 off Cuba. It is an excellent food-fish and is taken by trolling, but we 

 know nothing regarding its game qualities. 



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