SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. 



77 



Sub-class Teleostei. Scombroids, 



Characteristics. A dark spot at the base of the pectoral aad 

 anal fins. — DeKay. 



Specific Description. The mackerel when first drawn from the 

 water is a beautiful fish. De Kay describes its colors as exceed- 

 ingly vivid ; dark steel blue above, becoming lighter on the scales 

 and mixed with metallic green near the lateral line. From 24 to 

 30 vertical deep blue half bands which are sometimes angular, 

 curved, interrupted and occasionally forming irregular circles. 

 Below the lateral line, and parallel with it, is a longitudinal, dull, 

 brownish line, often interrupted and sometimes forming a series of 

 inequidistant, irregular spots, occasionally both line and spots 

 wanting. Beneath, silvery, with greenish and yellowish metallic 

 reflections, a black blotch of the pectorals and ventrals. Pecto- 

 rals, second dorsal and caudal, dark colored ; the remaining fins 

 lighter. Iris of the eye white with a slight tinge of yellowish ; 

 pupils black, 



A careful examination of these colors would be sufiicient to 

 identify this species. The head is somewhat pointed and about a 

 sixth of the length of the body ; mouth of a moderate size ; eyes 

 large. A single row of small teeth on the jaws, a single row on the 

 palatines ; tongue black. The lower margin of the operculum has a 

 row of mucus pores. The body is cylindrical, tapering to the tail. 

 The lateral line is waved or undulating, passing from the humeral 

 bone to the tail. 



Dorsal fin commences over the ventrals ; contains in the first 13 

 simple rays. The second dorsal is one third as high as the first ; 

 it has ten rays. Behind these are six finlets composed of one ray 

 and equidistant. Generally there are five corresponding finlets on 

 the opposite side beneath ; pectorals acute, fourth ray longest ; 

 ventrals subdivided at their middle and again at their extremities, 

 and opposite the commencement of the second dorsal, at its com- 

 mencement is a short spine, and next to it the finlets before 

 named ; caudal deeply forked — on each side are ridges or carina ; 

 no air bladder. 



Ray formula — 



D. 13, 10— V. 1'; P. n ; V. 6, A. 12; V; C. lb.— DeKay. 



Storer has it — 



D. 10, 12; P. n, V. 5, A. 12, C. 20. 



Length 15 to 11 inches. 



