THE ROCK FISHES OF CALIFORNIA. 267 



the wharves call them "Tom-cod." The narne "Boccaccio" (Big-mouth) is very appropriate; 

 "Merou" is transferred from Atlantic species of Epineplielus; "Jack" comes from the species of 

 Esox and Stizostedium which in the Southern States are called by that name. This species is one 

 of the largest of the group, reaching a weight of twelve to fifteen pounds. Its average size in the 

 markets is greater than that of any of the others. It ranges from the Santa Barbara Islands to 

 Cape Mendocino. It inhabits reefs in deep water, only the young coming near the shore. It is 

 rather more abundant southward than about San Francisco. It is, however, a common market- 

 fish, and its flesh is considered excellent. It is probably the most voracious of the family. 



Five species of the genus Sebastichthys, namely, S. melanops, S. caurinus, S. maliger, S.proriger, 

 and S. ciliatus, attain to large size and considerable commercial importance in Alaska, and are 

 discussed by Dr. Bean in his paper on the "SHORE FISHERIES OF ALASKA" in another section of 

 this work. 8. melanops is called " Black Bass" at Sitka. 



85. THE ROCK TROUTS CHIRID.E.. 



By DAVID S. JORDAN. 



A family of fish of considerable importance on our Pacific coast is that of the Chirida, or Rock 

 Trouts, no representatives of which are known in the Atlantic. One or two species of the family 

 occur in the Sea of Japan. 



BOREGATA (Hcxagrammus Stelleri Tilesius). This species is known in Puget Sound by the 

 Italian name of " Boregata" or "BoregatV The name " Starling" is applied to some fish, supposed 

 by us to be this species, in the Straits of Fuca. It reaches a length of fifteen inches and a weight 

 of three pounds. It ranges from Puget Sound to Kamtschatka. In Puget Sound it is compara- 

 tively abundant, living about rocks. It spawns in July. It feeds on crustaceans, worms, and 

 fishes, and apparently gets its food on the bottom in deep water, as the animals taken from 

 its stomach are often of a kind not seen near shore. Its intestines are very often full of long 

 teenioid worms, supposed to be parasitic. As a food-fish, it ranks with the other Rock-trout, being 

 of fair quality, but inferior to Ophiodon and Sebastichthys. 



GREEN ROCK TROUT (Hexagrammus lagocephalus (Pallas) Jor. & Gilb.). This species is 

 confounded with others of this genus under the names of "Rock Trout," "Sea Trout," "Boregaf," 

 and "Bodieron." At Cape Flattery this fish and the preceding receive the Indian name of 

 "Tsebarqua." In size and value it corresponds very closely to the preceding. It ranges from 

 Monterey to Kamtschatka, being nowhere very abundant, although not a rare fish. Its food is 

 largely crustacean. Its flesh, like that of Ophiodon, is often colored green. 



SPOTTED ROCK TROUT (Htxagrammus decagrammus (Pallas) Jor. & Gilb.). The name "Bore- 

 gata" is applied to this species by the Italians on Puget Sound. The name "Rock-cod" is also given 

 to it. From San Francisco southward, the names "Rock Trout" and "Sea Trout" are common. 

 The Portuguese at Monterey call it " Bodieron." It reaches a length of fifteen inches and a weight 

 of two or three pounds. It ranges from San Luis Obispo to Alaska, and is much more generally 

 common than any of the other species, and large numbers are brought into the market of San 

 Francisco. It lives in rocky places at no great depth. It feeds voraciously on Crustacea and 

 worms. It spawns in July. It dies at once on being taken from the water, and the flesh becomes 

 rigid and does not keep as well as that of the rock-fish. It is a food fish of fair quality, but not 

 extra. The sexes are very unlike in color, and have been taken for distinct species. 



CULTUS COD (Ophiodon dongatus Girard). This species is universally railed "Cod-fish'' 

 where the true cod is unknown. About Puget Sound the English call it "Ling." Among the 



