THE MACKEREL FAMILY. 161 



the second dorsal and anal fins and which are so charac- 

 teristic of the Mackerel family, are of very material assist- 

 ance to the fish in giving additional stability, and because 

 they, apparently, act as so many tiny rudders. 



With certain modifications (because of the tail being here 

 the means of propulsion), what a glorious living pattern is 

 this for future high-speed submarine boats! 



The members of the Mackerel family are of exceed- 

 ingly-great importance to Man (though if one were to judge 

 by the little use at present made of them in Australiati 

 waters, he would not be likely to come to that opinion), 

 immense numbers being captured and consumed as food. 

 Most of the species are large and powerful fishes. Some of 

 the most important, however, are of a fairly small size, 

 making up for that as in most of the Herring family by 

 the enormous size of their shoals. The Common Mackerel 

 of Europe and the Atlantic coast of North America is one 

 of the latter. It is at present one of the most important 

 among all food-fishes ; providing in its capture and treat- 

 ment alone employment for thousands of persons. Pro- 

 bably the largest numbers are captured on the coast of 

 Norway, while the British fishermen reap a rich harvest out 

 of them ; but the fact that in 1900 the catch landed at Boston 

 and Gloucester alone two ports on the coast of the United 

 States amounted to 24,854,794 pounds, valued at about 

 250,000 sterling, should demonstrate the importance of this 

 fish. Amongst the larger forms in fact, the largest is 

 the great Tunny (Thunnus thynnus), which attains to a 

 length of over 10 feet and a weight of 1500 pounds. One 

 gigantic example captured off Cape Ann in America even 

 measured 15 feet. This fish has a wide distribution, occur- 

 ring in nearly all if not all warm seas. It is highly pro- 

 bable that it will be found to occur at times in numbers, on 

 the coast of Australia. In the Atlantic Ocean, on the 

 American coast, it is found as far north as Newfoundland 

 and the Lofroden Islands. It is also abundant in the Medi- 

 terranean Sea, and in the Pacific Ocean on the coast of 

 California, while, in addition, it has been obtained in the 

 Indian Ocean and on the coast of Japan. In the Mediter- 



M 



