The Great Tunnies 



Two species of small size in our waters, little valued as 

 food. The first of these, the ocean bonito (G. pelamis) occurs 

 in all warm seas, is pelagic, not common anywhere, and on 

 our Atlantic Coast it has been seen as far north as Cape Cod 

 and the Bermudas. It is also frequent in southern California. 

 This species may be distinguished from the next by the distinct 

 curve in the lateral line below second dorsal and in having 4 

 lengthwise stripes on side below lateral line. 



The other species, the little tunny (G. alleterata) is also 

 pelagic, occurring in all warm seas. It is not uncommon in the 

 Mediterranean and the West Indies; on our Atlantic Coast it 



occurs as far north as Cape Cod. It is not known from Cali- 

 fornia. From the ocean bonito it may be readily distinguished 

 by the absence of a curve in the lateral line and in having no 

 stripes. 



GENUS THUNNUS SOUTH 

 The Great Tunnies 



Body oblong, robust, with very slender caudal peduncle; head 

 conic; mouth wide, with one series of small, conic teeth in the 

 jaws and bands of minute villiform or sand-like teeth on the 

 vomer and palatines; scales present, those of the pectoral region 

 forming an obscure corselet. 



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