FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 419 



108. Chub Mackerel ; Thimble-Eye {Scomber colias Gmelin). 



The Chub Mackerel seems to be the fish figured by DeKay at plate 11, fig. 33, of 

 his New York Fauna, but the description apparently relates to some other fish as 

 the Chub Mackerel does not grow to the length of 2 feet. In 1896, this mackerel 

 abounded in all the little creeks tributary to Gravesend Bay, and in some instances 

 the fish could be dipped up by boat loads with scoop nets. Before the end of the 

 summer the fish reached the length of 10 inches. It was not found abundant in 

 Gravesend Bay in 1897. According to Dr. Smith it is abundant some years in Vine- 

 yard Sound and the lower part of Buzzards Bay, but uncommon other years. It is 

 caught in traps and also on lines while fishing for Common Mackerel. It usually 

 arrives about July 15 and leaves late in October. 



109. Frigate Mackerel (yi«,rz> ///^^arisf LacdpSde). 



The Frigate Mackerel inhabits various warm seas in which its movements are 

 erratic and uncertain. It occasionally visits the coasts of the United States in 

 immense numbers. At Woods Hole, Mass., it is recorded as a very rare species. 

 It was first observed in 1885, when one was taken in a trap at Menemsha Bight. 

 Since then one was caught in a pound at Woods Hole, June 29, 1892. 



This mackerel reaches a length of about 15 inches. It is a poor fish, with little 

 value as food. 



110. Oceanic Bonito {Gymnosarda pelamis Linnaeus). 



The Oceanic Bonito is a much larger fish than the Frigate Mackerel, and has an 

 equally wide range. It lives in warm seas and is pelagic by nature. On the 

 Atlantic coast it is not very common, but occurs occasionally north of Cape Cod 

 and in the Bermudas. It has once been taken in California. Dr. Smith says it has 

 been reported only once in the Woods Hole region, in 1878, when there was a 

 remarkable run in the traps at Menemsha. The fish remained in the vicinity several 

 weeks and were caught daily in some of the nets; as many as 2,000 or 3,000 were 

 taken in all. The fishermen call them " Blue Bonito " on account of the intense 

 dark blue of the back. They were about as long as the Common Bonito, but some- 

 what heavier. An earlier record of the occurrence of this species was that of July, 

 1877, when a specimen Avas obtained at Provincetown, Mass. 



111. Little Tunny [Gymnosarda allcterata Rafinesque). 



The Little Tunny is also an inhabitant of warm seas, occasionally ranging north- 

 ward to Cape Cod ; it is common in the West Indies and in the Mediterranean. 

 According to Dr. Smith it is usually abundant in Vineyard Sound in July and 



