206 BULLETIN OF THE BUKEAU OF FISHERIES 
105. Sarda sarda (Bloch). Bonito; “Boston mackerel”; “Bloater.” 
Seamier sarda Bloch, Ichthyol., X, 1793, p. 35, PL CCQXXXIV; Europe. 
Sarda pelamys Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 109; ed. II, p. 92. 
Sarda sarda Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 872; Fowler, 1912, p. 58. 
Head 3.6; depth 4.35 to 4.5; D. XXI — 16-IX; A. II, 10 or 11— VIII. Body elongate, com- 
pressed; caudal peduncle slender, broader than deep, with a membranous fold on the sides, its depth 
10 or 11 in head; head rather long; snout pointed, its length 2.8 to 2.95 in head; eye 7.55 to 7.7; in- 
terorbital 3.7 to 3.8; mouth large, oblique; upper jaw slightly projecting; maxillary reaching past 
posterior margin of eye, 1.9 in head; teeth in the jaws rather strong, curved inward; a few teeth on 
palatines; gill rakers slender, 12 or 13 on lower limb of first arch; spinous dorsal long, the spines 
slender, highest anteriorly, its origin over or slightly in advance of base of pectorals; second dorsal 
small, wholly in front of anal, followed by 9 finlets; caudal fin rather small, broadly forked; anal 
fin similar to second dorsal but smaller, followed by 8 finlets; ventral fins small, inserted nearly 
under base of pectorals; pectoral fins short, with broad base, 2.6 in head. 
Color bluish black above; lower parts silvery; dorsals and pectorals more or less dusky, other 
fins mostly plain translucent. Young with black crossbars on upper part of sides; these bars replaced 
In the adult by 7 to 20 black, longitudinal, prominent stripes running backward and slightly upward. 
This species was observed only in the southern part of the bay. No specimens were preserved. 
The above description is based on two specimens, respectively 250 and 255 millimeters (9^4 and 
10 inches) in length, from Buzzards Bay, Mass. 
This fish, like most mackerels, travels in schools along the coast. It is a rapid swimmer and 
feeds mainly at the surface. When seen in the water, the adults are readily recognized by the dark 
stripes on the back. Apparently the entire catch in Chesapeake Bay is taken in pound nets. Along 
the coast, however, the bonito is often caught by trolling with tackle that is also used for catching 
bluefish. Its spawning habits remain almost unknown. Bean (1903, p. 395) says that this fish is 
believed to live in the open sea, coming to the shores only to feed or to deposit eggs. Of its feeding 
habits this author says that it is predacious, feeding insatiably on mackerel and menhaden, and that 
it takes bait as freely as does the bluefish. The catch of bonito in Chesapeake Bay during 1920 
amounted to about 1,400 pounds, valued at $192. The entire catch was made with pound nets set 
in the waters of Virginia. 
The bonito is never taken in large quantities inside the bay. Large schools of fish pass up and 
down the coast outside of the capes, but apparently only stragglers, and occasionally a small school, 
enter the Chesapeake. This species is taken only in the southern part of the bay and seldom above 
the mouth of the York River or Cape Charles city, Va. 
The first fish are caught some time in May, and small numbers are taken by the pound nets 
operated in the lower parts of the bay throughout the summer, or until September. The first fish 
caught during the season of 1921 was taken at Lynnhaven Roads on May 20. The following year 
(1922), in a set of three pound nets at Ocean View, bonitos were caught for the first time on May 17. 
The second catch, however, was not taken until May 26. The records of fish taken in a set of two 
pound nets situated at Lynnhaven Roads show that the largest amount of bonito caught in any one 
month during a period of seven years (1916 to 1922) was 135 pounds. This record catch was made 
in June, 1920. 
