236 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



in good condition and feed freely upon shrimp. As the fish are Hving it is uncertain 

 vvhetlier or not they are I\I. aiiratiis ; but they agree in the main with the description 

 of that species. Their endurance of water at a temperature of 50" Fahr. is unexpected. 

 M. aiiratits is recorded upon our East Coast from Cape Cod to Florida, but it is rare 

 as a rule in the north. Fishermen at Sandy Hook reported that large numbers were 

 seen there in September and October, 1897. 



79- Scomber scombrus {Liniucns). Mackerel. — Two young, three and one- 

 quarter to five and one-half inches long, were taken in Gravesend Bay, L. I., Ma}- 23, 

 1896, in John B. De Nyse's shad pond. No more were seen, and these were the first 

 for the year. They come about the time of the appearance of anchovy and weakfish. 

 They are often seen swimming at the surface of the bay in small bunches of eighteen 

 or twenty, occasionally one hundred, in the latter part of May or early in June. They 

 are always split up into small bunches, probably by the attacks of weakfish and other 

 predaceous species which are present at the time. Flukes attack them also in shallow 

 water ; flukes are very destructive to young fish. A fluke will often have eight or ten 

 little tautogs in its stomach. They frequent the flats for the purpose of feeding on 

 little fishes. 



80. Scomber colias {Gmcliii). Thimble-eye Mackerel; Chub Mackerel. 

 — This species was not found in large numbers in Gravesend Bay in 1897, but in 

 1896 it abounded in all the little creeks, and in some instances the fish could be 

 dipped up by the boat loads with scoop-nets. The fish reached ten inches in length 

 before the end of the summer. 



81. Sarda sarda {Block). Bonito. — The fish is generally scarce in Gravesend 

 Bay. Five were taken in one day in a pound net in October, 1897, an unusual 

 number for that species. The fish will not live in captivity. 



82. Trichiurus lepturus {Limueus). Scabbard-fish. — One young example was 

 caught in John B. De Nyse's pound, Gravesend Bay, in August, 1897. It had been 

 captured by another fish while in the pound, but was rescued in good condition. The 

 species is ver)' rarely seen in that bay. 



83. Oligoplites saurus ( Blocli &■ Schneider). Leather Jacket. — An example 

 nine and three-quarters inches long and two and one-half inches deep was secured 

 in De Nyse's pound in Gravesend Bay in the summer of 1896. It is rarely seen there. 



84. Seriola zonata {Mitcldll). Banded Pilot. — The species does not endure 

 close confinement, but thrives in the great pool of the Aquarium. Two e.xamples, 

 taken in September m Gravesend Bay, are living at the end of November, 1897. 

 They feed on small killifish, which they take with a rush much the same as the brook 

 trout. 



