THE PACIFIC ALBACORE. 



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the whole population was at once astir, preparing nets for the capture, and salt and 

 tubs for the curing of the expected fish. There are two modes of catching the Tunny, 

 one by the seine-net and the other by the "madrague." The mode of using the seine 

 is identical with that which has already been described when treating of the mackarel, 

 but the madrague is much more complicated in its structure and management 



The principle of the madrague is precisely the same as that of the " corral," by 

 which wild elephants are entrapped in Ceylon. 



A vast inclosure of united nets, nearly a mile in length, and divided into 

 several chambers, is so arranged that as the Tunnies pass along the coast, they 

 are intercepted by a barrier, and, on endeavoring to retreat, are forced to enter one 

 of the chambers. When a number of Tunnies have fairly entered the net they are 

 driven from one chamber to another, until they are forced into the last and smallest, 

 called significantly the chamber of death. This chamber is furnished with a floor of 

 net, to which are attached a series of ropes, so that by hauling on the ropes, the floor 

 of the net is drawn up, and the fish brought to the surface. The large and powerful 

 fish struggle fiercely for liberty, but are speedily stunned by blows from long poles, 

 and lifted into the boats. 



TUNNY. -Tbyaaus Thyaaus. 



The flesh of the Tunny is eaten both fresh and salted. It is most extensively used, 

 being pickled in various ways, boiled down into excellent soup, and is also made into 

 pies, which are thought to be very excellent, and possess the valuable property of 

 remaining good for nearly two months. The different parts of the fish are called by 

 appropriate names, and are said to resemble beef, veal, and pork. 



The food of the Tunny consists mostly of smaller fish, such as herrings and pil- 

 chards, and the cuttle-fish also form some portion of its diet. 



In general shape the Tunny is not very unlike the mackarel, but in size it is vastly 

 superior, generally averaging four feet in length and sometimes attaining the dimensions 

 of six or seven feet. The color of the upper part of the body is very dark blue, and 

 the abdomen is white, decorated with spots of silvery lustre. The sides of the head 

 are white. 



OF an allied species, the PACIFIC ALBACORE (Thynnus Pacificus), Mr. F. D. Bennett 

 writes as follows, in his well-known " Whaling Voyage." " Ships when cruising slowly 

 in the Pacific Ocean are usually attended by myriads of this fish, for many successive 



