60 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



in its movements and rarely reaches the coasts of the United States. 

 It is known on the coasts of Great Britain, where it is called the 

 " Plain Bonito." None were observed before 1880, when it sud- 

 denly appeared in countless numbers. Since then it has been some- 

 what rarely observed. At Woods Hole it is rare ; the first one recorded 

 was taken at Menemsha Bight in 1885; one was taken in a pound, 

 June 29, 1892. One was taken at the mouth of Narragansett Bay 

 in the autumn of 1904. 



It reaches a length of about 15 inches. It is a comparatively poor 

 fish and of little value as food. 



THE HORSE MACKEREL, OR TUNNY. 

 (Thunnus thynnus.) 



The Tunny is found in all warm seas. In the Atlantic it occurs 

 as far north as Newfoundland and the Lofoden Islands; in the 

 Pacific as far north as Monterey Bay and Japan. It is sometimes 

 very abundant on our Atlantic coast, and is taken in rather large 

 numbers off Block Island, Cape Cod, and Cape Ann. It was formerly 

 plentiful at Woods Hole, but a few years ago it was becoming rare. 

 Of late it has been becoming more common around Newport and 

 Narragansett Pier. In 1903, 79 were shipped from Newport, and 

 in 1904, 336; in 1905, 91. Mr. Brownell, of Tiverton, R. I., says 

 that in the autumn of 1904, off Long Island, he ran through an 

 immense school of these fish, extending for ten miles. It is present 

 from June to October, but is most abundant in July. 



Little is known of its breeding habits, but it is said to spawn in 

 June. According to Yarrell, the recently hatched young weigh 

 1^ ounces and grow to 4 ounces by August, and to 30 ounces by 

 October. 



The Horse Mackerel is pelagic and carnivorous in its habits; the 

 menhaden is said to form its chief article of diet. This is by far the 



