Monterey Spanish Mackerel 



small; pectoral moderate, near the level of the eye; air-bladder 

 present. Fishes of the high seas, graceful in form and beautiful 

 in colouration; 5 species in our waters. 



a. Male with the sides silvery, no spots; female with two rows 



of brown spots; fins nearly plain; concolor, 284 



aa. Each sex with numerous bronze spots on sides; spinous 

 dorsal dark except at base. 



b. Soft dorsal inserted in advance of anal; maculatus, 285 



bb. Soft dorsal inserted over anal. 



c. Body deep, the depth less than 5 in length. 



d. Teeth 26 to 32 on each jaw ; sierra, 286 



dd. Teeth about 40 on each jaw regalis, 286 



cc. Body more slender, the depth about 6 in length ; 



cavalla, 287 



Monterey Spanish Mackerel 



Scomberomoms concolor (Lockington) 



This species occurs on the coast of California, chiefly in 

 Monterey Bay, where it appears usually in September, disappear- 

 ing in November. It is never abundant, only a few individuals 

 being seen each season. It attains a length of 30 inches, and 

 a weight of 5 to 8 pounds. It is held in very high esteem as 

 a food-fish, and always brings a high price in market. 



Head 5; depth about 4|; eye 5^; D. XVII-i6-VIII; A. I, 16- 

 VIII; pectoral 8 in body; teeth about 50 in each jaw. Mouth 

 slightly oblique, the maxillary reaching to posterior edge of pupil; 

 teeth comparatively small, subconic, and little compressed, those 

 on vomer and palatines minute and granular; lateral line slightly 

 wavy, descending obliquely; pectoral inserted rather above axis of 

 body; ventrals small; dorsal spines slender and fragile, the longest 4 in 

 head; dorsal fins separated by an interspace equal to \ length of base 

 of spinous dorsal; caudal shorter than head, its lower lobe the 

 longer; gillrakers long, 18 below the angle. Colour of male, 

 dark steel-blue, sides silvery, without streaks or spots; female 

 with two alternate series of brown spots, the silvery on sides 

 clouded with dusky; fins nearly plain, dark. 



284 



