316 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIO ANIMALS. 



This species was ascertained by Professor Jordan to occur abundantly in the Gulf of Cali- 

 fornia, and south as far as Mexico. It is for some reason not highly valued by the Mexicans. 



The Obro or King-fish — Scombbeomorus caballa. 



The Cero is a West Indian species which has been recorded from Santo Domingo, Jamaica, 

 Cuba, Martinique, Porto Rico, and Brazil. A few specimens hare been observed as far north as 

 Wood's HoU, Massachusetts. It is a magnificent fish. It often grows to twenty-five pounds, and 

 sometimes, it is said, to one hundred pounds in weight. Its habits are probably not unlike those 

 of the Spanish Mackerel. The name Cero is commonly accepted iu the United States; it is a 

 corruption of the Spanish sierra, and the Mexicans call the fish by that name. 



"The King-fish," writes Mr. Stearns, "are very abundant in the southern part of the Gulf and 

 common at some places in its northern portion. They live altogether at sea and are caught with 

 trolling-lines. At Key West they are important as food-fishes, large quantities being sold in the 

 markets. Two men in a small sail-boat sometimes catch more than a hundred in a day, and I 

 have seen the market so glutted with them that five cents would buy one of the largest size." 



Professor Jordan states that they are regularly caught with trolling hooks by nearly every 

 steamer from Savannah to New York.' 



The King Cero or Spotted Cero — Scomberomorus regalis. 



The King Cero of the Florida Keys grows to be five or six feet long and to twenty or thirty 

 pounds in weight. This fish also occasionally wanders as far north as the southern shores of Cape 

 Cod in summer. It is abundant in the West Indies, having been recorded from Cuba, Santo 

 Domingo, Jamaica, and Barbadoes. Cuvier, moreover, had a specimen from Brazil. It is more 

 than likely that this and the preceding species are both included by the Key West fishermen 

 under the name " King-fish," the differences in general appearance being so slight that it is hardly 

 likely that they would be noticed by ordinary observers. 



The Monterey Mackerel — Scomberomorus concolor. 



The Pacific species may be called the Monterey Mackerel. It attains a length of about thirty 

 inches and a weight of about five or eight pounds. It has only been seen in the Monterey Bay, 

 where from five to forty individuals are taken every fall, most of them at Soquel. They appear 

 in September and disappear perhaps in November. Nothing further Is known of their distribution 

 or habits. They always bring a very high price in the market (30 to 50 cents per pound), the flesh 

 being similar to that of the Spanish Mackerel of the East, which species this fish closely resembles. 



99. THE BOXITO— SARDA MEDITERRANEA. 



This fish is one of those which appear to live for the most part in the open ocean, wandering 

 hither and thither in large schools, preying upon other pelagic fishes, and approaching land only 

 when attracted by abundance of acceptable food. Several of the smaller species of the group 

 of Tunnies, to which it belongs, are known to sailors by the same name. The common Bonito of 

 England, Orcynus pelamys, is what is here called the "Striped Bonito," two or three specimens 



> A RARE FISH.— Captain Matthews, of the steamer " Oriental," who arrived Tuesday from Savannah, brought home 

 a fine specimen of the King-fish, which was caught in the Gulf Stream on the passage. It was placed on exhibition 

 in the Quiucy market, at stalls 1SJ7 and 129, and attracted considei-able attention from the fact that it is the first one 

 of the kind ever seen here. It weighs about forty pounds, and more nearly resembles the Spanish Mackerel in color 

 and form than any other iish usually seen in this market, although it is much larger. It is a very fat, handsome fish, 

 and is said to be a nice article for food.— Boston Journal, July 26, 1871. 



