REPORT UPON THE DIVISION OF FISHERIES. 359 



equally ignorant of the fact that, with the exception of the bull's-eye 

 mackerel (Scomber colias), which closely resembles the common species, 

 no fish has been found that satisfactorily fills the place of Scomber 

 scombrus in the markets of the United States. 



Early in April my attention was called to* an importation of what 

 was called u Black Sea mackerel," 89 barrels of which had been salted 

 and shipped to this country from Turkey as an experiment. Wishing 

 to obtain fuller information concerning the so-called mackerel, I cor- 

 responded with the firm in Boston, Massachusetts, to whom the fish 

 were consigned, and was courteously furnished specimens and all the 

 facts relating to the importation. 



The fish proved to be the common bouito (Sarda sarda). They were 

 about the size of extra large No. 1 mackerel of the common species; 

 perhaps a few were slightly larger ; they were split down the back ; had 

 evidently been soaked before being salted, were u rimmed," and with 

 the exception that the flesh was very dark, their resemblance to mack- 

 erel was sufficiently close to pass for the latter among people unfamiliar 

 with its special characteristics. 



Several persons to whom specimens were given for trial, and who are 

 thoroughly competent to pass judgment regarding the edible qualities 

 of the bouito when prepared in this manner, reported them to be a fair 

 substitute for mackerel, though the flesh was rather oily and coarse, 

 and less delicate in flavor than that of the latter. 



These so-called mackerel were said to have been caught in the Bos- 

 porus, and, so far as I am informed, this is the only instance where an 

 attempt has been made to supply our markets with such a substitute 

 for the common mackerel from foreign countries. 



It is pertinent here to remark that the bonito occurs off our own coast 

 in considerable numbers, and is frequently specially abundant on the 

 California coast. If a sufficient demand could be obtained for it as a 

 substitute for mackerel there seems to be no doubt but what the demand 

 could be supplied to a considerable exteut by our own fishermen. 



What is, however, of still greater importance to the fishing interests 

 of this country at the present time is the fact that the demand for 

 mackerel caused by the exceptional scarcity of the common species off 

 the Atlantic coast may, to a considerable extent, at least, be supplied 

 from the coast of California, where the chub or bull's- eye mackerel 

 (Scomber colias) occurs in great abundance. This species finds a ready 

 sale in our markets ; those caught in the Atlantic are nearly the equal 

 of the common mackerel, and for this reason it is probable that an im- 

 portant mackerel fishery may be established on the southern coast of 

 California if the attempt is made by those having sufficient skill and 

 enterprise. 



