364 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



met with in the ocean about the islands. Their elongate, slender bodies with 

 long' beak-like jaws that are set with a band of small sharp teeth, besides a set of 

 wide, sharp, conical teeth, together with the dorsal fin opposite the anal fin 

 set far back on the body, are characteristics sufficient to separate them from the 

 flying-fish on the one hand, and the half-bills on the other, as these two families 

 are the only Hawaiian fish with which they would be confused. Superficially 

 they resemble the common gar-pike. They are voracious, carniverous fishes that 

 swim along the surface of the sea, often leaping from the water. Specimens 

 four feet long occasionally reach the market, and are much sought after as food 

 by certain races. Ahaaha,'-^ as they are called by the Hawaiians, are common in 

 the market every month of the year. 



Pamp.vnos. 



Of the more than two thousand known species nf pnmpanos,'-' at least 

 twenty-five liave been taken in Hawaiian waters. Tlieir bodies arc compressed, 

 somewhat resembling the mackerels in form, but they are without the finlets 

 which are so marked a characteristic in the family. As a rule, they are metallic- 

 blue in color, varied with silver and gold, and have the lateral line in most 

 cases armed with bony plates posteriorally. The simple mark of the family, 

 however, is the presence of two separate spines in front of the anal fin. The 

 Carangida; are all rapid surface swimmers, so much so that occasionally the dorsal 

 fin will be seen cutting through the surface of the water. They are all regarded 

 as excellent fish, but the lae, puakahala. opelu, akule, apuu-u, and the ulua, 

 and the curious ulua kihikihi or thread fin. are among the best known species. 

 The ulua'"' is indeed one of th(> most imiiortant food fish of the islands. Speci- 

 mens tliree and even four feet in Innutli are common enouuh in the markets. It 

 dries readily and the head is especially esteemed for use in the making of fish 

 chowder. This species is considered by many to be the most delicate and finely 

 flavored food fish to 1)e taken in these waters and is quite generally sulistituted for 

 mullet and opakapaka on the bill of fare of the most fastidious. 



Tarpon. 



The tarpon occurs in Hawaii and resembles the bonefish quite closely, but 

 its dorsal fin is inserted well before the anal, a characteristic which separates its 

 family"' from the others of the order. It is said to be a grent game fish in 

 Florida, where it is eonnnon. Tarpon have little value as a conunodity in the 

 Hawaiian markets. 



Tlie thread-fin with the long threads, sometimes twice the length of the 

 fish, trailing from tlie d(U'sal ;ind anal fins is a curious fish of wide distribution 

 that is occasionally seen in the markets, and is without doubt the most striking 

 member of this family of pampanos.^' a large family which includes local repre- 



^^ Athlennea Mans. i' Cnrangklir. ^' Vamniius iijiioliUii. ^'' Eliipiilir. ^' Carangidce. 



