132 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



tant to have a small but ponderous bait attached to a fifty- 

 yard line of the smallest size for trolling. The jaw of the 

 Spanish mackerel is tender, therefore he plays more gin- 

 gerly, and does not resist so hard in landing as does the 

 bluefish ; but he should be handled carefully, and prevent- 

 ed from taking slack line, as he unhooks easily. 

 My opinion is that this fish will yet be taken in great num- 

 bers with rod and reel. As they annually become more nu- 

 merous, they come farther into the estuaries and back-sets 

 from the bays along the coast, and after they get a taste of 

 shedder and soft-shell crab, with smelt in abundance, and a 

 modicum of spearing and shrimp, they will soon make them- 

 selves more familiar, and accept the dainties offered on the 

 angler's hook ; and when once fairly converted, he will afford 

 the angler better sport than the salmon or the striped bass. 



SECTION ELEVENTH. 



THE BONETTA, OR BONITO. 



The bonetta is the beautiful and swift fish after which one 

 of our war vessels of the Revolution was named. The Span- 

 ish name is bonito. I prefer the other name because of its 

 associations. This fish is found in great numbers about the 

 West India Islands, where it preys on the flying-fish. His 

 first arrival along our beaches and in our bays was about 

 eight years ago, and his shoals have increased remarkably 

 fast ever since his advent. As a table luxury it ranks with 

 epicures below the striped bass and bluefish, but because of 

 its comparative rarity it commands a price rather above 



THE BONETTA, OR BONITO. Thynnus pelamys. Cuvier. 



