Dolphin, Butter fish 353 



Economic Importance: An excellent food fish commercially 

 taken by harpoon. A recreational fishery using both har- 

 poon and trolled baits or artificial lures has developed in 

 recent years. 



Dolphin 

 Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus 



Color: Background silvery; iridescent colors over sides 

 with blues and golden yellows predominating. 

 Distribution: Cosmopolitan in warm, open seas. In the 

 western Atlantic it is found north to Cape Cod and as a 

 straggler to Nova Scotia. 

 Size: Attains a length of about 6 feet. 



General Information: The Dolphin is a fast-swimming 

 species most common in the blue waters of the open sea. 

 It feeds largely on fish, particularly the flying fishes. This 

 animal is a true fish, although its name is often appHed to 

 certain sea mammals which are also known as porpoises. 

 Economic Importance: This species is frequently taken by 

 the sport fisherman while offshore. 



Butterfish 

 Poronotus triacanthus (Peck) 



Color: Silvery gray or blue above; sides paler; silvery be- 

 low. Numerous irregular dark spots on the sides of live 

 fish, which fade soon after death. 



