The Short-finned Tunny (Orcynus thynnus), the “great
mackerel” of the northern fishermen, has been taken in our
seas to the weight of 400 or 500 lbs. and a length of g or
to ft. It is least uncommon in the late summer on our
south-west coast, where it comes inshore after the pilchards
that abound there at that season. In so doing, it sometimes
becomes entangled in the drift-nets.
It is a large fish, resembling the mackerel in outline, the
pectoral fin long and scythe-shaped, and with a conspicuous
corselet of scales. In colour it is a very dark blue, the adult
losing the stripes that were conspicuous in the younger fish.
Both edges of the body have a number of finlets in front of
the tail, so characteristic of many of these larger mackerels.
A small example, measuring only 3 ft., was not long ago taken
in the drift-nets at Plymouth.
The Long-finned Tunny (Orcynus germo) has been taken
on our south-west coast, and also in the Solway Firth,* but only
measuring 2 or 3 ft. and weighing from 12 to 20 lb. It
is said to take a bait more readily than the larger tunny.
In colour it is very like it, but it has a much longer pectoral
fin, extending behind the second dorsal. There are the same


* Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., January, 1898, p. 53.
SOME RARE OR UNCOMMON FISHES 283


finlets on both margins of the body, but the corselet of scales
is much less conspicuous. This tunny appears to be confined
on the rare occasions of its visits to our Channel coast, not
having found its way, like O. thynnus, to the more northern
portions of the island.
