DISTRIBUTION AND GENERAL NOTES ON THE SPECIES 359 



The etymology of the name ' trevally ' is exceedingly interesting. It appears to be derived from the 

 Portuguese cavalha, a horse or horse-mackerel (spanish caballa), names which are still applied to 

 Caranx in their countries of origin. In the Gulf of Mexico and eastern Florida this name applies to 

 Caranx hippos (Linnaeus) but has become corrupted to 'cavally', and even to 'Horse crevalle'^ in 

 South Carolina. As a further complication on the ichthyological side, ' crevalle ' is sometimes applied 

 to Trachynotus carolimis (Linnaeus), although this species is widely known as the ' common pompano' 

 in the eastern states. I suggest that 'crevalle' became readily corrupted to 'trevally' and, as applied 

 somewhat loosely to carangid or closely allied fishes, reached the southern hemisphere with the New 

 England whalers and sealers early in the last century. Whether the final corruption took place en route 

 or after arrival must remain a matter for speculation. 



Palinurichthys coeruleus (Guichenot). Norman (1937, pp. 116-18) tentatively refers both this and 

 the next species to the genus Palinurichthys, remarking that the genera of Centrolophidae need revisioi]L. 

 It was with some doubt that Norman identified our two specimens from the centre of the shelf with 

 Guichenot 's Seriolella coenilea from Juan Fernandez off the west coast, owing to vagueness of the 

 original description : ^^g^^ ^ ^^^^6 ^ 



Palinurichthys griseolineatus Norman. Our specimens of this new species, which would seem to be 

 rare, all came from the centre of the shelf. I have found a note of E. R. Gunther's which states that: 

 ' Its colour in life is of a delicate blueish and silvery gray : the gray running along the sides in horizontal 

 undulating bands which divide and merge. The reference by Norman (1937, p. 117) to brownish and 

 yellow has doubtless resulted from staining by teak and alcohol used in storage and transport.' 



WS75 I WS97 I WS108 I 



STROMATEIDAE 

 Stromateiis maculatus Cuvier and Valenciennes. This fish is more likely to become of value as food for 

 man than most of the others found within the area of the trawling surveys. Its flesh is rich and well 

 flavoured (other members of the family being also noted for their pleasant taste, and the high fat and 

 mineral content of their flesh) and free from too many small bones. In South America, where Norman 

 (1937, p. 118) tells us that it is called 'pampanito', the species seems to have acquired an undeserved 

 reputation for causing gastric disorders when eaten, and some hint of this prejudice may be found in 

 the Falkland Islands.'^ The crew of the 'William Scoresby' ate Stromateus with relish and without 

 any ill effects, and from what is known of closely allied species that have long been exploited on a 

 large scale in the eastern U.S.A. and in China, I have no doubt that its ill repute is due merely to more 

 rapid decomposition (when stored too long under primitive conditions) than species of lower food 

 value. There seems to be no English vernacular name for this fish, and I would venture to suggest 

 'spotted pomfret' as most suitable; alternatives based on other common names applied to members 

 of the family elsewhere would probably leave more scope for confusion, as will be shown later. 



Stromateus ranked third in total weight of the fishes captured during the third survey, and fifth in 

 total numbers during all three surveys. Although of uniformly small size they are nearly all potentially 

 saleable, owing to their compact bream-like shape. They commonly range from 10 to 13 in. (25-34 cm.) 

 in length, and from 7 oz. to i lb. (200-470 g.) in weight. A very high proportion of the fish (almost 

 certainly over 60%) is edible. Analysis of the closely allied Chinese species Parnpus (Stromateoides) 

 argetiteus (Euphrasen) shows 64% edible (Read, 1939, p. 45). Our largest specimens of Stromateus 

 maculatus measured 38 cm. 



1 Truly a work of supererogation ! . , ^ „ , , 1 u . c 



2 Stromateus, however, seems rarely to penetrate to the immediate vicinity of the Falklands: we took them at tour 

 only of the many stations worked within 100 miles of the islands, and the nearest was 75 miles away. 



18 



