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Examples
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Another great delight I had consisted in going out on the bowsprit and fishing for bonitoes and dolphins with a bit of red or white cloth tied to a hook, in the same way as one goes "reeling" for mackerel in the
The White Squall A Story of the Sargasso Sea J. [Illustrator] Schonberg
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Albicores, bonitoes, and dolphins followed the ship for several days in succession; and one albicore, which had a mark on his back, from which we knew it, followed us from 3 degrees north latitude to 10 degrees south latitude, a distance of eight hundred and forty miles.
Mark Seaworth William Henry Giles Kingston 1847
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Several other bonitoes were caught which had swallowed even a greater number.
The South Sea Whaler William Henry Giles Kingston 1847
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They saw also dolphins and bonitoes swimming near them, and occasionally caught sight of a large shark, with its black fin just above the water.
The South Sea Whaler William Henry Giles Kingston 1847
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"They will be of use, if we cannot get anything else from it, as we shall be able to kill any dolphins or bonitoes which swim near us," said the mate.
The South Sea Whaler William Henry Giles Kingston 1847
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Several of those we saw just now are by this time down the throats of the albicores or bonitoes, which are following them.
The South Sea Whaler William Henry Giles Kingston 1847
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Frequently the ship was surrounded by bonitoes, moving through the waters much like porpoises; and the seamen got their harpoons ready, to strike any which might come near.
The South Sea Whaler William Henry Giles Kingston 1847
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We here had plenty of several sorts of fish, as silver-fish, snappers, bonitoes, cavallos, pollocks, old wives, and cray-fish of great size.
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The bonitoes and albicores are much like our mackerels in colour, shape, and taste, but grow to a very large size.
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The flying-fishes live the most unhappy lives of all others, as they are persecuted in the water by the dolphins, bonitoes, and albicores, and when they endeavour to escape from their enemies in the water, by rising up in flight, they are assailed by ravenous fowls in the air, somewhat like our kites, which hover over the water in waiting for their appearance in the other element.
chained_bear commented on the word bonitoes
I'm familiar with the dried fish flakes called bonito, used in Japanese cuisine. I have never seen the word used in the plural, however:
"...he would still have ordered the boats away when the bonitoes appeared. At dawn flying-fish had been found on deck by the score, and as the sun rose their persecutors could be seen skimming about in schools just under the surface. The boats, plying net and line with prodigious zeal, brought in several loads of fish, fish that did not have to be steeped in precious fresh water; and as Stephen remarked to Martin, the bonito, like his cousin the great tunny, was not only a warm-blooded fish but also a great promoter of Venus."
--Patrick O'Brian, The Far Side of the World, 150
February 20, 2008