H aw aiian F is h e s 167 



protruding. It is thought to spawn in offshore waters from December to 

 April and thereafter to migrate northward to coastal waters to feed during 

 the summer and fall. 



The swordfishes are caught extensively in the Atlantic Ocean for sale 

 in the markets. It is a good fish and has a dark red-colored oily flesh. It 

 is the greatest of game fishes and very difficult to land. The name of 

 Xiphias was bestowed upon the fish by Aristotle. 



The swordfish is circumtropical in its distribution and is found in 

 both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, 



There are a number of stories in which beaked fishes have rammed 

 ships. Although the stories are credited to swordfish, they probably were 

 actually marlins. The habit of spearing ships is a rather stupid one 

 because it usually ends in self destruction. The poet Oppian put the 

 story beautifully in the following lines: 



"Nature her bounty to his mouth confined 

 Gave him a sword, but left unarmed his mind." 



THE DOLPHIN OR DORADO FAMILY 



79 Family Coryphaenidae 



The dolphin fishes are not to be confused with the true dolphins 

 which are miniature whales. The dolphins are large fishes with compressed 

 bodies and a long dorsal fin. The head is high in the male and bears a 

 crest. The family lives in mid-ocean in all tropical and temperate seas. 



The family contains two species, both of which are found in Hawaiian 

 waters. 



Common Dolphin or Mahi-mahi 



Also known as the Dorado, Mahihi, Mahi-mahi Lapa, or Mahi-mahi Oma 



79-1 Coryphaena hippurus Linne 



Plate I, Figure 1 



The mahi-mahi is noted for its brilliant and rapidly changing colors 

 especially when dying. The body is green or blue above and apple green 



