96 
BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
85 . Gymnosarda pelamis (Linnaeus). Oceanic Bonito; “ Blue Bonito.” (*) 
This fish has been reported in the Woods Hole region on only one occasion, 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 in all were taken. The name “blue 
bonito” was given them by the fishermen in allusion to the intense dark blue of the back. They were 
about the same length as the common bonito, but were somewhat heavier. The species was first taken 
on the United States coast in July, 1877, when a specimen was obtained at Provincetown, Mass. 
86. Gymnosarda alleterata (Rafinesque). Little Tunny ; “ Tunny"; Bonito. ( " ) 
Usually abundant in Vineyard Sound in July and August. Taken only at Menemsha, where some- 
times as many as 100 are caught in a net at one lift. All are of one size, weighing about 8 pounds. 
The species is stated by Goode 1 to have made its first appearance in American waters in 1871, when 
several large schools were observed by the Fish Commission in Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound. 
87 . Thunnus tlrynnus (Linnaeus). Horse Mackerel; Tunny. (*) 
Formerly plentiful, but rare for a number of years ; none for five years in Buzzards Bay traps. 
About 1888, one weighing 630 pounds was taken in a trap off Quisset Harbor. Abundant on the north 
side of Cape Cod. 
88 . Germo alalunga (Gmelin). Long-finned ATbacore. 
On May 21, 1895, a specimen 3 feet long and weighing 21 pounds became entangled in the leader 
of a fyke net set in Great Harbor and was thus caught. This appears to be the only known occurrence 
of the fish on the Atlantic coast of the United States, although it is found in the eastern Atlantic and 
Mediterranean, as well as in the Pacific. 
89 . Sarda sarda (Bloch). “Bonito.” (* t) 
Usually common. Some years abundant and some quite scarce. In traps, at Menemsha, as many 
as 1,000 are often taken daily in August, September, and first part of October. The average weight 
is 3 J- to 4 pounds ; a few weigh 7 or 8 pounds, and many small ones are caught weighing only half a 
pound. Very young fish are rare. On one occasion some 2 inches long were taken in July at 
Menemsha. 
90. Scomberomorus maculatus (Mitchill). “ Spanish Mackerel.” (* t) 
Rare during recent years, and apparently scarcer each season. Formerly abundant. In 1883 or 
1884 530 were taken at one lift of a trap at the breakwater. When the fish was abundant it was more 
common in Buzzards Bay than in Vineyard Sound. Only one or two have of late been taken annually. 
The average weight in this region is 21 pounds. 
91 . Scomberomorus cavalla (Cuvier). “ Cero.” (* t) 
Appears in Vineyard Sound about July 1, and is quite common until the end of the trap-fishing 
season. It is much more common than the Spanish mackerel. At times 8 or 10 are taken at one lift 
of a trap at Menemsha. When traps were set in Buzzards Bay about 35 or 40 of this and the preced- 
ing species were caught annually at Quisset. The fishermen do not distinguish S. cavalla from S. regalis, 
but call both “cero.” 
92 . Scomberomorus regalis (Bloch). Kingfish; “Cero.” (* t) 
Occurs in about same abundance and at same time as the foregoing species. 
TRICHIURIDiE. The Cutlas-Fishes. 
93 . Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus. Cutlas-fish; Scabbard-fish. (*) 
A specimen 3 feet long was taken at Woods Hole in 1874. A few stragglers have been taken in 
traps at Menemsha Bight during the last ten years, usually not more than one or two in a season; one 
that has been preserved was caught September 21, 1874. Chesapeake Bay appears to be the normal 
northern limit of its range, and is the limit assigned in recent lists. As early as 1840, however, the 
fish was taken in Buzzards Bay, and in 1845 was recorded from Wellfleet. 2 
'Natural History of Aquatic Animals. 
See Storer, History of Massachusetts Fishes. 
