HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 153 



Remarks. This species, which, while preparing my Report, I considered to be the 

 Trachinotus argenteus of Cuvier, is occasionally found in New York, according to Dekay, 

 and is not unfrequently met with at Holmes's Hole. Dr. Yale writes me, from the latter 

 place : " It follows vessels, or keeps near old casks or planks that are floating, and 

 sometimes is found about the wharf-logs in our harbor." The only specimen I have 

 known to be captured north of Cape Cod was taken at one of the wharves in this city, 

 September 12, 1846. 



It is known by the fishermen at Martha's Vineyard as the Rudder-fish. 



Massachusetts, STOKER. New York, MITCHILL, DEKAY. 



GENUS VIII. CARANX, Cuv. 



Body covered with small scales, with the exception of the lateral line, which is armed 

 with a series of broad scales, those on the posterior half of the body having an elevated 

 horizontal keel in the centre, forming a continuous ridge, each scale ending in a point 

 directed backwards. Two distinct dorsal fins ; free spines before the anal fin ; teeth 

 exceedingly minute ; branchiostegous rays, seven. 



CARANX CHRYSOS, Cuv. 



The Yellow Mackerel. 



(PLATE XIV. FIG. 1.) 



Scomber chrysos, Yellow Mackerel, MITCHILL, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., I. p. 424. 

 Le Carangne jaune (Scomber chrysos, MITCH. ; Scomber hippos, LIN.), CUT. et VAL., ix. p. 98. 

 Caranx chrysos, Yellow Caranx, DEKAY, Report, p. 121, pi. 27, fig. 85. 



" " " STOBER, Proceedings of Host. Soc. Nat. Hist., I. p. 148. 



" " " " " Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 353. 



" " " " " Synopsis, p. 301. 



Color. Of a greenish-blue color upon the back and upper portions of its sides ; the 

 greater portion of the sides of a bright yellow. An obscure dark-brown blotch is observed 

 at the posterior superior angle of the operculum. The abdomen is yellowish-white. 

 The pupils are black ; the irides golden. The dorsal and pectoral fins are yellowish- 

 brown. The caudal fin is yellowish throughout its greatest extent. The ventrals and 

 the anal are of the color of the sides. 



Description. The length of the head is less than one fourth the length of the entire 

 fish. The top of the head and the gill-covers are smooth, and destitute of scales ; the 

 top of the head is arched ; upon its top is a distinct ridge, which passes from above and 



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