PERCH-LIKE FISHES 123 



short and broad, the pelvic fins usually longer. The lateral 

 line is scarcely arched in front, and forms a keel on the base 

 of the tail. The coloration is usually blue or bluish-black on 

 the back, shading to silvery or yellowish-white on the lower 

 parts ; often there is a yellow or golden band running along 

 each side from the snout to the tail. The hues of the fins 

 vary in the different species, but the caudal fin is nearly always 

 yellow. Young individuals often have more or less distinct 

 dark cross-bands. 



The larger species grow to a length of 5 to 7 feet and a 

 weight of more than 100 lb. 



Several species may be recognized, but only about three of 

 these attain to any size. The California Yellow-tail (S. 

 dorsalis) ranges from Point Concepcion to Panama ; the Great 

 Amber-fish, Amber Jack or Coronado ,(S. lalandi), is found in 

 the tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, being well 

 known in South Africa and on the coast of America from 

 Florida to Brazil ; the New Zealand Yellow-tail (S. grandis) 

 occurs in the seas of Australia and New Zealand. 



The Yellow-tails are handsome, active fishes, generally to 

 be found in large shoals, and feeding mainly upon other fishes 

 and upon crustaceans of various kinds. In South African 

 waters, where these fishes are known as "Albacores ", the 

 shoals arrive in October and remain throughout the summer. 

 The Californian Yellow-tail may be caught at almost any time 

 of year, but is. most abundant from July to October, when 

 shoals swarm around Coronado Island and Santa Barbara 

 Islands. Writing of the Cape "Albacore ", Mr. Biden says : 

 " When the fish are in great shoals, the attention of fishermen, 

 putting out to sea in the night's darkness, is attracted to a 

 glow on the ocean resembling the luminosity of distant search- 

 lights. . . . When night falls, the scene reveals what at 

 first sight appears an immense quantity of phosphorus on the 

 sea. The reflection of this wonderful light is seen in low-lying 

 mists and is visible for miles. When the fish are disturbed, 

 one school excites another, in turn, till the foam of the ocean 

 sparkles with lights of blue, crimson and violet, scintillating in 

 a maze of fire . . ." 



The spawning season of the Cape Yellow-tail is from January 

 to July, that of the Californian species from July to the 



