FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 41 



Family VII. 

 SCOMBEROIDES. 



Scomber. Lin. 



Generic characters. Scales on the body small and smooth ; 

 vertical fins not bearing scales; two dorsal fins widely separated ; 

 some of the posterior rays of the second dorsal and the anal fin 

 free, forming finlets ; sides of the tail slightly carinated ; one 

 row of small conical teeth hi each jaiv ; the parts of the gill 

 cover without dentic illations or spines ; branchiostegous rays 7. 



S. vernalis. Mitchell. The Spring Mackerel. 



Trans. Lit. et Philosoph. Soc. N. Y. p. 42. 



Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. viii. p. 48. 



Fauna Boreali. Americana, p. 80. 



Mitchell describes under the specific names of " grex" and 

 " vernalis, " the common mackerel of our coast. Cuvier, although 

 he admits both in his great work, considers them as the same ; 

 and Richardson remarks. " the only differences between S. grex 

 and vernalis, seem to be in their size and color, and they are 

 very probably different ages of the same species." I have ex- 

 amined with much care the mackerel which are brought to 

 our market, and the differences are too slight between them to 

 constitute distinct species. 



This species is taken on our coast, from the latter part of 

 May, in nets, in small numbers, until about the tenth of June, 

 when it readily takes the hook, and is brought to market the 

 remainder of the season in large quantities. Although, as 

 fresh fish, mackerel are sold in the markets along our whole 

 coast, for several months in the year, and are considered by all, 

 excellent food, (from 6 to 8000 barrels being sold annually in 

 Boston market alone,) their great value to this people, arises 

 from the means of employment afforded to an immense num- 

 ber, by the process of salting and packing. 

 6 



