FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 47 



The Caudal fin is yellowish, deeply forked ; two lateral cari- 

 nas at base. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 9-12 ; P. 19 ; Y. 5 ; A. 13 ; 

 C. 23. 



Thtnnus. Cuv. 



Generic characters. Form of the hodij like that of the 

 Mackerel, hut less compressed ; numerous scales surrounding 

 the thorax : first dorsal fin extending nearly to the second : 

 second dorsal and the analfiji subdivided posteriorly , form^ing 

 numerous finlets ; sides of the tail decidedly curvated ; a sin- 

 gle row of small pointed teeth iti each jaw ; hranchiostegous 

 rays 7. 



T. vulgaris. Cuv. The Common Tunny. 



Pennant's British Zoology, vol. iv. 234 et fig. 

 Mc Murtrie's Cuv. ii. 144. 



Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. viii. p. 58. 

 Yarrell's Btitish Fishes, v. i. p. K34 et fig. 



This must be a very rare species in the waters of this State. 

 I have met with only one specimen ; this was taken Septem- 

 ber 4th, 1838, near Kettle Island, between Marshfield and 

 Cape Ann, with a large sized cod-hook, baited with a " me7iha- 

 den." while fishing for the " codling,^' or, as it is improperly call- 

 ed, '' hake.'^ The Portsmouth Journal noticed another individ- 

 ual taken the last season, at Pigeon Cape, near Cape Ann, fifteen 

 feet in length, and weighing about one thousand pounds. 

 With respect to this specimen, the writer remarks : " after pre- 

 paring two barrels of the fish for Boston and New York, the 

 remainder was sold in our market, and many of our citizens 

 were enabled to feast themselves on its most delicate meat, 

 resembling much in appearance lean pork, and the best of 

 mackerel in taste." This species is taken in large numbers in 

 the Mediterranean ; and its flesh has been long celebrated for 

 its delicacy. Occasionally specimens are taken upon the 

 coast of Great Britain, upon the Cornish Coast, upon the 



