FAMILY SCOMBRIDAE — SCHULTZ 417 



In addition to the well preserved specimens listed above, there were discarded 

 more than 35 specimens in various stages of disintegration rescued from the ship 

 wrecked in Halfmoon Bay, Calif, (see vol. 1, p. xxi). Among these dried speci- 

 mens we have saved a few of the best; they bear the number USNM 111428. 



Description. — Dorsal rays XV-III,10-7; anal 111,10-6; pectoral 

 ii,25; pelvic 1,5; gill rakers on first gill arch 1 + 1 + 11; teeth lower jaw 

 13 to 18, upper jaw 16 to 23. 



Greatest depth 4.5 to 4.8; length of head 3.8 to 4.0; length of 

 pectoral fin 6.0 to 6.5; length of base of first dorsal 3.6 to 3.7; snout 

 tip to soft dorsal origin 1.7 to 1.8; all in length from tip of snout to 

 fork of caudal fin or "crutch." Eye 4.2 to 5.6; snout 2.5 to 2.6; tip 

 of snout to rear of maxillary 1.9 to 2.0; interorbital space 2.5 to 2.6; 

 length of pectoral fin 1.7 to 1.8; longest (third) dorsal spine 3.6 to 

 3.7, longest soft dorsal ray 2.8 to 3.1, soft anal ray 2.7 to 3.3; longest 

 pelvic ray 2.7 to 2.9, all in length of head to rear edge of fleshy 

 operculum. 



Body fusiform, skin smooth except for corselet around pectoral 

 base, above it, and along back; lower jaw broad, heavy, with rather 

 large teeth, these a little heavier in lower than in upper jaw; vomer 

 toothless, villiform teeth on palatines, and a villiform patch of teeth 

 each side of midline of tongue; lateral line extending over pectoral in 

 a slight curve downward to below rear of base of soft dorsal, then 

 opposite first two dorsal finlets with a wave or two, thence curving 

 upward to midlengthwise axis just in front of caudal keel and about 

 opposite the thud anal finlet; a few scales above and below the lateral 

 line, and caudal keel scaly; thud spine of dorsal longest; preopercular 

 margin with a concavity in its posterior margin; maxillary reaches to 

 opposite middle of eye; interorbital though a little convex is flattish; 

 eye large, 2.2 in length of pectoral and 2.2 in length of maxillaries. 



Color in alcohol. — Back dark blue or blackish, whitish underneath; 

 fins blackish, tips of soft dorsal and anal white, posterior margin of 

 pelvics white-edged. 



Ecology. — This species was the most frequently caught of all the 

 tuna in the Northern Marshall Islands, being especially abundant in 

 the entrances into the lagoon. It was usually from 2 to 3 feet long 

 and many were 4 feet m length. During the spring it was in a spawn- 

 ing condition. Frequently it had Caesio and Pterocaesio in its stomach 

 when caught. 



Remarks. — This tuna was given the name dogtooth tuna by the 

 commercial fishermen because it had teeth larger than those of any 

 other species of tuna caught at Bikini during "Operation Crossroads." 



