THE DIAMOND FLOUNDEI;. 185 



THE DIAMOND FLOUNDER. HYPSOPSETTA GUTTULATA (Girurd) Gill. 



In the neighborhood of San Francisco this species is known ;is t lit- ''Tin-hot," many of the 

 dealers stoutly averring that it is identical with the English tish of that name. .South of Point 

 Concepcion the name Diamond Flounder is in use. This refers to the rhombic form of the fish, 

 and the name seems an appropriate one. It reaches a length of eighteen inches and a weight of 

 four pounds, but as usually seen in the market its length is about one foot. 



The geographic range of this species seems to be from Cape Mendocino to .Magdalena Uav. 

 It seems to be more plentiful in the bays of Tomales and San Diego than elsewhere, apparently 

 preferring shallow water and sandy bottoms. It is one of the, more abundant species, forming 

 perhaps two per cent, of the catch of Flounders in the neighborhood of San Francisco. 



Its food consists mainly of Crustacea and small mollusks. Nothing special is known of its 

 breeding habits. Its enemies are those of all Flounders, anil no diseases have been noticed. As 

 a food-fish it ranks high. It is one of the most firm-fleshed of the Flounders. 



THE "SOLI-:*" ill' I-ALIFHRXIA. 



LEPIDOPSETTA BILINEATA (Ayres) Gill. 



This species has no other distinctive name than "Sole." It reaches a length of twenty inches 

 and a weight of five or six pounds. Its average weight in the market is about three pounds. It 

 ranges from Monterey to Alaska, and its relative abundance steadily increases as we go north- 

 ward from Monterey to Vancouver's Island. lu Puget Sound it makes about thirty per cent. <>f 

 the flounder catch ; about San Francisco barely two per cent. It lives in rocky places in deep 

 water, and most of those taken about San Francisco come from the neigh borhood of the Farallones. 

 It takes the hook more readily than any of the other small-mouthed Flounders, and considerable 

 numbers are taken by the Chinese on their set-lines, especially at Monterey. They feed chiefly on 

 crustaceans and small fishes. 



Nothing special is known of its breeding habits, and nothing distinctive of enemies or 

 diseases. It is perhaps more subject to the parasitism of the fish louse than any of the other 

 species. 



Dr. Bean found this fish abundant in Alaska, and one of the most important of the flat fishes 

 in that territory. It is there regarded as an excellent food-fish. The natives spear it as it lies 

 entirely concealed in the loose sand along shore, where it comes at eventide to feed on small 

 crustaceans. 



PAROPHRYS ISCHYRUS Jordan and Gilbert. 



Four specimens only of this species have been seen. These were taken with a seine at Seattle. 

 It resembles the preceding in appearance, and probably in habits. Those seen wen about eighteen 

 inches long, and weighed about three pounds. 



"This is a coarse, rough fish in its general appearance, greatly resembling the Flounder, I'lru- 

 ronectes stcliatus, but difl'ering from it in the ctenoid scales, and in the presence of an aer< -sory 

 lateral line, characters in which it agrees with the nest species. It has hitherto been found only 

 in Puget Sound, and reaches a length of about eighteen inches." LiK-l.l.ii/tnti. 



PARoriiRYs VKTULTTS (Jirard. 



This species is always called S-ile by the lisherinen. It is one of the smallest species, reach- 

 ing a length of about fourteen inches and a weight of about two pounds. Those usually seen in 



