(Germo microptera)
Another of the =Scrombridae= family, and very closely allied to the
albacore, is the yellow-fin albacore. This fish has erroneously been
called "yellow-fin tuna." It does not belong to the genus =Thunnus=
any more than does the albacore or the bonito. It is only a visitor to
the California waters, and often does not make its appearance for one
or two seasons at a time. They are common to the coasts of Japan and
the Hawaiian Islands, and are supposed to migrate with the Japanese
current. This species fights altogether on the surface, but lacks the
sterling gamy qualities of the tuna.
In shape it is built very much on the lines of the albacore, but with
its pectoral fins only extending back to about half way between the
anal and ventral, the other fins are placed the same as the albacore,
and all except the pectoral strongly tinged with bright lemon;
pectoral fin is more of a bright brown; eye, large and prominent.
A few have been taken weighing as much as 40 pounds and one even 65
pounds. The average, however, is about 30 pounds.
[Illustration: BONITO (Sarda chilensis)]