392 NEW YORK STATE MUSEfUM 



one half as long as the head; when extended it reaches to below 

 the 11th spine of the dorsal. The pectoral reaches to below the 

 12th spine; it is falcate, its length equal to length of head with- 

 out the snout. The corselet is not so well defined as in some 

 other related species, because the entire body is scaly. The 

 lateral line curves downward from a point under the origin of 

 the second dorsal. D. XIV, i, 13-IX; A. i, 12-VIII; V. I, 5. 



Color dark blue above; grayish below with silvery spots; pupil 

 black, iris golden with greenish reflections; rays of spinous dor- 

 sal dusky, the connecting membrane nearly black, second dor- 

 sal reddish brown; pectorals silvery gray; ventrals black above^ 

 white beneath ; dorsal and anal finlets bright yellow, dark at 

 base and on anterior edge; gill covers silvery gray. 



The tunny is the largest fish of the mackerel family, reaching 

 a length of 10 feet or more. It is pelagic, but comes to all 

 warm coasts, northward to England, Newfoundland, San Fran- 

 cisco, and Japan. In our waters it appears usually in sumhaer 

 and is often taken in rather large numbers off Block Island, and 

 on Cape Cod and Cape Ann. On account of its enormous size 

 and great strength, it is often destructive to the fishermen's 

 fixed nets. 



Dr Storer says it comes into Massachusetts bay about the 

 middle of June and remains till earh^ in October. It was not 

 uncommon to observe 50 or more in a day at Provincetown. It 

 feeds on menhaden, vmackerel, whiting, dogfish and other small 

 fishes. The usual implement of capture at first was the har- 

 poon, but, now that its flesh has become valuable for canning 

 and when marketed fresh, it is taken in pound nets and by line 

 fishing. The fish arrives on the coasts in poor condition and 

 without value ; but becomes very fat during the summer months^ 

 and is then utilized for the oil, which is obtained from the 

 head and belly by boiling, and for its flesh, which is favorably 

 regarded, either fresh, salted or preserved in cans. 



The tunny is said to spawn in June, and the recently hatched' 

 young, according to Yarrell, weigh 1^ ounces, growing to 4 

 ounces by August and 30 ounces in October. Adults Often 



