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therefore, as like a Snoek, but with greater modifications for 

 a deep-sea or pelagic life. It does not approach the coast in 

 shoals like Snoek, and its usual habitat seems to be the surface 

 waters of the open sea, where the higher speed, indicated by 

 its flat powerful body, reduced ventral fins, etc., is necessary, 

 seeing that it cannot, like its all}^ the Snoek, occasionally prey 

 upon shoals of Herring and Mackerel inshore. 



As might be expected, this fish of the high seas is very widely 

 distributed. It has been recorded from American waters ; it 

 is common in Europe, South Africa, South-East coast of Aus- 

 tralia and Tasmania, but seems to occur in greatest abundance 

 in New Zealand, where it is esteemed as " the most delicious 

 fish " (Sherrin), none the less so as it has the accommodating, 

 though fatal, habit of swimming ashore. 



The Snake Mackerel {Gempylus serpens). 



This is a fish closely allied to the Kalk Fish, having a long 

 flat body, pointed head, with projecting lower jaw, and power- 

 ful canine-like teeth. The dorsal spines are not so numerous 

 (about 30), however, and there are separate finlets, as in the 

 Snoek. 



It is a rare fish, and is believed to be an inhabitant of very 

 deep waters, though little is known of its mode of life. It is 



The Snake Mackerel (fiewpyhis serpens). 

 (From photo by Mr, Brooking, East London.) 



widely distributed, having been found both in the northern 

 and southern hemispheres. A specimen has been found in 

 South Africa by Mr. Brooking, at East London. It was found 

 alive in a school of Mullet caught in a seine net — a fact not 

 quite in keeping with its supposed deep-sea habits. It has 

 no local name here, as might be expected from its rarity, and 

 we have adopted the American popular name of Snake Mackerel. 



The Hair-tail {Trichiurus haumela). 



In its general features this fish is similar to the preceding 

 members of the family, but instead of having a normal caudal 

 fin, the body tapers away to a fine hair-like point, and this 

 striking difference has led some icthyologists to separate it from 

 the others. This hair-like tail cannot very well function as a 



