112 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



Color. Bluish black above ; silvery on the sides. Pectorals dark blue above ; beneath 

 whitish. Sword dark brown above ; whitish beneath. Anal whitish. 



Length, 10-15 feet. 



Fin rays: Young, D. 3.40; P. 16; A. 17; C. 17 f. 

 Adult, D. 18.3; P. 16; A. 11.3; C. 17 J. 



In 1791, a Sword-fish was exhibited in New- York, sixteen feet long. In 1817, another 

 was taken by a harpoon off Sandyhook, twelve feet long, and described by Mitchill as cited 

 above. In some years they are quite abundant. In the summer of 1840, the New-York 

 markets were well supplied with the sword-fish. It is preferred to halibut or sturgeon, which 

 in flavor it somewhat resembles. According to Dr. Storer, about two hundred barrels are 

 annually taken at Martha's Vineyard, south of Cape Cod, and sold at three or four cents per 

 pound. 



The Sword-fish has a great range on the eastern side of the Atlantic, and is one of the few 

 which cross this ocean. It feeds on mackerel and other gregarious fishes. 



GENUS NAUCRATES. Cuvier. 



Tail ridged on its sides. Ventral fins thoracic. Dorsal fin single, elongated, with free 

 spines before it and the anal fin. Body covered with small scales. Branchial rays seven. 

 Teeth small and numerous. Nofinlets. 



THE NEW- YORK PILOT-FISH. 



Naucrates noveboracensis. 



Gasterosteus ductor, Pilot-fish. Schcepff, Beobacht. Vol. 8, p. 167. 



Scomber ductoT, Pilot-fish. Mitchill, Lit. and Pbil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 424. 



Le Pilote de New-York, N. noveboracensis. Cuv. et Val. Hist. Poiss. Vol. 8, p. 325. 



Characteristics. Four transverse blue bands, and four spines before the dorsal. Opercle not 

 striated. 



We have little information to give in relation to this fish. Schogpff first noticed it in his 

 catalogue, supposing it to be the common Pilot-fish of the Atlantic. Mitchill entertained the 

 same idea. Cuvier received specimens from New- York, which closely resembled the ductor ; 

 but he treats it as distinct, on account of its striated opercles. In liquor, his specimens 

 appeared to be yellow, with lilac bands. It is very probable that independent of this species, 

 the true N. ductor or Pilot-fish must occasionally appear in our waters, and hence I have added 

 a figure of that species. I have, however, never met with it. 



