BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 149 



wise these two kinds of liisli cannot easily be distinguished one from the 

 other. The second kind of Meletta, or the tropical herring {Meletia 

 thrissa), is quite common on the coast of Brazil, in the West Indies, and 

 on the east coast of Korth America as far north as New York. It is 

 considered dangerous, especially during the spawning season, the roe 

 ocing its most poisonous i)art. From San Domingo cases have been 

 reported where people have died from eating this fish. Hornemann in 

 his medical work says that it is advisable to forbid the crews to eat 

 any fish of the sardine kind (to which family the Melettas belong) in 

 the tropics, especially during the spawning season, an advice which 

 should be heeded, as mistakes may easily have fatal consequences. 



From Japan we also have reports of poisoning by fish of a similar 

 kind, the Engraulls japonica. It is found in large numbers, especially 

 near Nagasaki, and is most dangerous during the time from July to 

 September. In the same locality the Enoranfis japonica is also found, 

 which Foussagrive supposes to be the same fish as Meletta thrissa. 



In the Brazilian and West Indian waters the Caranx fallax (belong- 

 ing to the mackerel family) is found. In Havana it is called "jure!." 

 It may be distinguished from the Ccfrowa? 6'arai?//w.s', which is common 

 throughout the entire tropical portion of the Atlantic, by the following 

 marks : The harmless Caranx has a black spot on the gill-covers, which 

 is wanting in the poisonous one. The poisonous Caranx also grows 

 larger, sometimes weighing as much as 25 pounds, while the other rarely 

 weighs more than 2 pounds ; for which reason it is prohibited in Havana 

 to sell Caranx weighing more than 2 pounds. The poisonous Caranx 

 has scales on the neck, while the other has a bare neck. The poisonous 

 one has invariably twenty-two rays in the second dorsal fin. It is also 

 said that this fish is poisonous only when worms are found in its head ; 

 this should, if true, also be considered as a distinguishing mark. 



Another kind of mackerel [Caranx p)iumi€ri) is also found in the West 

 Indies, and is poisonous only in certain localities and at certain times; 

 but Mien it is poisonous to a high degree. In the French West India 

 Islands it is called ''coulirou, " and the Spaniards call it " chi^aro." 

 Hornemann states that in Havana it is not considered iioisonous, but 

 in Guadeloupe, where it is found in large quantities, and where it has 

 a very fine flavor, it sometimes happens that specimens of this fish are 

 caught which are so ])oisonous that they are used to poison rats. It 

 is said that these i)oisonous specimens may be distinguished by the 

 circumstance that their bones are red, which is not the case with the 

 harmless ones. It very much resembles the common mackerel, but is 

 shorter and thicker from belly to back. 



The bonito also [Scomber pelamys)^ which belongs to the same family 

 and which is frequently very delicious as an article of food, under cer- 

 tain circumstances may be, if not poisonous, at any rate unwholesome 

 and hurtful. There have been insbinces where the eating of this fish 

 has caused colic and diarrliea, and an itch breaking out on the skin. In 



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