164 Hawaiian Fishes 



leisurely eating the wounded. It is also reported that the spearfishes are 

 chased and eaten by large sharks. 



The marlins are highly prized by sportsmen for their fighting qualities. 

 They have an interesting habit when hooked on a Hne of plunging into 

 the air. 



These fishes are reported as excellent food and are commonly sold 

 on markets. 



They are named marlin because their spear resembles a marlin spike. 



Four members of this family occur in Hawaiian waters. 



The Pacific Sailfish 



Also known as the Indian Sailfish, Banana Sailfish, and Kansegan 

 77-1 Istiophorus orientalis (Schlegel) 



The Pacific sailfish reaches a length of nine or ten feet. It is plain 

 bluish black in color over the body and is marked on the dorsal fin by 

 a number of round black spots. It lives in warm seas and migrates 

 northward with the seasons to feed. It is a fast swimmer, a good eating 

 fish, and a good sport fish. It is known from the Indian Ocean across 

 the entire tropical Pacific Ocean. 



The Pacific Striped Marlin or Barred MarHn 



Also known as Marlinspike Fish, Marlin Swordfish, Barred Marlin, 



Mitsukuri's Marlin, Makajiki (True Spearfish), Kajiki Maguro 



(Spearfish Tunny), Nairage, Baisen, and Bakudo 



77-2 Tetrapturus mitsukuni Jordan & Snyder 



Plate I, Figure 4 



The Pacific striped marlin is a dark blue-black color on the back 

 and whitish beneath. The sides of the body are marked with twelve 

 to seventeen pale blue bars which reach almost to the belly. The dorsal 

 fin is black. This fish will weigh from 400 to over 1,000 pounds and 



