86 Big Game Fishes 
the tuna, Zhunnus thynnus of science, the king 
of the mackerels, is trim, attractive, a type of 
activity, a model of speed, and doubtless the 
giant of the true fishes, attaining a weight of 
fifteen hundred pounds or more; a well-equipped 
foeman for the angler who goes down to the sea 
after large game. 
In the winter the fishes take to warmer water 
in the open sea; at least this is the supposition, 
as vessels report them at various times. The 
tuna was first described by Linnzeus, and there 
is but a single genus and species, the fish being 
a world-wide wanderer in the warmer seas. In 
the water the fish appears green, with flashes of 
yellow; but when landed, the back or upper por- 
tion is seen to be a vivid, even iridescent blue, 
the lower portion silver, in some instances gray. 
The body is oblong, shaped like the model of 
some modern yachts, evidently built for speed. 
The tail has a decided fork, and is a powerful 
organ, upon each side of which are pronounced 
keels. The dorsal fin fits into a scabbard, and the 
side or pectoral fins in old individuals fit into 
shallow depressions. The scales are seemingly 
covered with an outer skin. The first dorsal 
is strong and powerful, and contains from twelve 
