THE BLUE-FISH. 153 
CHAPTER XI 
THE BLrE-FISH. 
Temnodon Saltator — Scomber Plumleus (Mitchill) — 
Horse Mackerel — Green-fish of Virginia — Skipjack of 
South Carolina. 
This fisli belongs to the mackerel family ; it has pro- 
jecting teeth in the fore part of the jaws, and velvety 
teeth on the roof of the mouth and tongue. The first dor- 
sal lies in a furrow, and there are two minute spines con- 
cealed under the skin before the anal. The scales extend 
over the head, gill-covers and high on the fins ; the back 
is bluish-green, and the sides and abdomen lighter ; the 
pectorals, second dorsal and tail are greenish-brown, 
while the ventrals and anal are white, tinged with blue. 
The gill-cover has two indistinct flat points. The fin- 
rays are as follows, the spines being distinguished from 
the soft rays. 
D. Y.1.25 ; P. 17 ; Y. 1.5 ; A. 1.2T ; C. 19| 
These fish furnish one of the most remarkable instances 
of the appearance and disappearance of species on our 
coast. As in our day, with the Spanish mackerel, that 
darling of the gourmand, so in former times, the blue-fish 
appeared suddenly. He was first seen on the coast of 
Massachusetts in 1764, and then not again till 1792 ; and 
it is only since the year 1830 that he has been abundant. 
