246 THE PILOT-FISH. 



by a sentinel, who is constantly watcliing from some lofty eminence, and the whole popula- 

 lation is 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 mackerel, but the madrague is much more complicated in 

 its structure and management. 



The general shape of the Tunny is like that of the Mackerel, but in size it is vastly 

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

 of six or seven feet, 



Of an allied species, the Pacific Albacore {Orcynus alalonga), 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 months. 

 A few days' rapid sailing is nevertheless sufficient to get rid of them, however numerous they 

 may be ; for they seldom pay more than very transient visits to vessels making a quick 

 passage. When a ship is sailing with a fresh breeze, they swim pertinaciously by her side 

 and take the hook greedily; but should she be lying motionless or becalmed, they go off to 

 some distance in search of prey, and cannot be prevailed upon to take the most tempting bait 

 that the sailor can devise." 



The Bonito (Sarda mediterranea) is a very pretty and common species that is found in 

 the Mediterranean and many parts of the Atlantic. 



This is a smaller species than the albacore, not exceeding two feet and a half in length. 

 The flesh of this fish is eaten both fresh and when pickled, but in a fresh state is not held in 

 very high estimation. At some seasons, it appears to contract an unwholesome quality, which 

 is injurious to certain constitutions, causing rather a painful rash to break out on the face and 

 body, though others can eat it with impunity. The flesh is very red in color, and looks very 

 like butcher's meat. 



Like the albacore, the Bonito is a determined foe of that much persecuted creature, the 

 flying-fish, and is often taken by means of a hook dressed with feathers so as to resemble its 

 natural prey, ft is a truly beautiful species, deserving fully the popular name of Bonito, 

 which may be freely translated as Little Beauty. The back is deep indigo-blue, mottled with 

 a lighter shade of the same hue, and when young a number of dark streaks are drawn across 

 the back. The abdomen is silvery-white, and the cheeks and gill-covers are of the same 

 brilliant hue. 



Bonito {Sarda chiliensis), Skip-jack, and Tuna, so called, and the X. mediterranea are 

 food-fishes of something the same quality as the mackerel. They are especially "sea-going" 

 species. 



Another species, the Striped Bonito {Auxis rochei), inhabits the same localities, and is 

 nearly as plentiful as the preceding fish. It may readily be known from the plain Bonito by 

 the four dark lines which extend along each side of the abdomen and end at the tail. 



The prettily-marked Pilot-fish is frequently seen off the American coasts, but seems to 

 be rather shy, and is not very often captured. 



This little fish has Ion.-;' been supposed to act the part of the shark's provider, and to 

 perform in the ocean the same actions that were once attributed to the jackal on land. Many 

 modern writers, however, deny the truth of the statement, by saying that the Pilot-fish only 

 follows the shark for the sake of the scraps that the larger fish is likely to leave, and that it 

 would probably lie snapped up by the shark but for its watchfulness and agility. 



As is usual in such a disputation, the evidence is very conflicting, and many accounts 

 have been published tending to throw discredit on the one side or the other, according to the 

 particular circumstances under which the observations were made. One well-known naturalist, 

 for example, mentions an instance where a shark was directed towards a baited hook by two 

 Pilot-fish that accompanied him ; but, on the other hand, another accomplished observer 

 narrates an interesting anecdote of a shark being continually warned of a baited hook by his 

 little friends, who struck their noses against Ins snout whenever he turned towards the bait. 



