86 Big Game Fishes 



the tuna, Thunnus thynnus of science, the king 

 of the mackerels, is trim, attractive, a type of 

 activity, a model of speed, and doubtless the 

 giant of the true fishes, attaining a weight of 

 fifteen hundred pounds or more ; a well-equipped 

 foeman for the angler who goes down to the sea 

 after large game. 



In the winter the fishes take to warmer water 

 in the open sea ; at least this is the supposition, 

 as vessels report them at various times. The 

 tuna was first described by Linnaeus, and there 

 is but a single genus and species, the fish being 

 a world-wide wanderer in the warmer seas. In 

 the water the fish appears green, with flashes of 

 yellow ; but when landed, the back or upper por- 

 tion is seen to be a vivid, even iridescent blue, 

 the lower portion silver, in some instances gray. 

 The body is oblong, shaped like the model of 

 some modern yachts, evidently built for speed. 

 The tail has a decided fork, and is a powerful 

 organ, upon each side of which are pronounced 

 keels. The dorsal fin fits into a scabbard, and the 

 side or pectoral fins in old individuals fit into 

 shallow depressions. The scales are seemingly 

 covered with an outer skin. The first dorsal 

 is strong and powerful, and contains from twelve 



