7 6 THE FISHERIES OF THE ADRIATIC, 



times caught in the tunny-nets. Histiophorus belone is not uncommon at 

 Spalato. 



The Scabbard-fish is quite exceptional ; a species in the Trieste 

 Museum was caught off Zaole after a hurricane ; it is a deep-sea fish, and its 

 flesh is said to be excellent. The Hair-tail is likewise accidental ; a species in 

 the Trieste Museum was caught on the Dalmatian coast. Thyrsites pretiosus 

 was found in one instance on the beach of the island of Solta (Dalmatia). 



The family Carangidce comprises nine species, of which the common 

 Horse Mackerel and Lichia amia are the two most important ; they are 

 all much esteemed as food, with the exception of the Boar-fish, which is not 

 eaten. Three species of Lichia, the Pilot-fish, and Caranx dentex are more 

 especially prized, whereas the Horse Mackerel belongs to the second class, 

 beine inferior to the common mackerel. The Horse Mackerel is common in 

 summer, when it migrates to these shores in company of the Scombridce, or 

 mackerel tribe ; they are caught by net and line, and owe their local denomi- 

 nation [Cantarini, Musicanti) to the sound they emit when drawn from 

 the water. Caranx dentex has been caught on the Dalmatian coast, and 

 Seriola Dumerilii has been fished at Venice, Trieste, and Ragusa. The 

 Pilot-fish is general, and, at times, not uncommon ; as many as twenty have 

 been caught at a time in the harbour of Fiume, having arrived in the 

 company of a vessel : Prof. Kolombatovic mentions an instance of one 

 hundred having been caught at Spalato in November, 1880, under similar 

 circumstances. From this habit of accompanying vessels and large fish, such 

 as sharks, it has derived its name ; it is the Pompilus 1 of the ancients, who 

 held it sacred. Licliia amia? is not uncommon in summer ; it attains to a 

 length of upwards of 3 feet, and its flesh is much esteemed, being fully on 

 a par with that of the tunny. The other two species of this genus, amongst 

 which is the Derbio, a British species, are both rare : the Skipjack has been 

 caught in Dalmatia ; and the Boar-fish is very rare, and of no value. 



1 See "An Introduction to the Study of Fishes," by Gunther, p. 444; also, Yarrell's 

 " British Fishes," vol. ii. p. 227. 



2 It is reared in the lagoons. 



