California Tomcod 



The other species is M. proximus, the California tomcod, 



which occurs on our Pacific Coast from Monterey Bay to Unalaska. 

 It is usually abundant and is a useful and valued food-fish. It 

 is easily distinguished from the Atlantic species by the characters 

 given above. 



GENUS GADUS (ART EDI} LINN/EUS. 



The True Codfishes 



Body moderately elongate, compressed and tapering behind; 

 scales very small; lateral line present, pale; head narrowed an- 

 teriorly; mouth moderate, the maxillary reaching past front of eye; 

 chin with a barbel; teeth in jaws, cardiform, subequal; vomer 

 with teeth, none on the palatines; cranium without the expanded 

 crests seen in Melanogrammus; no part of the skeleton expanded 

 and ivory-like; dorsal fins 3, well separated; anal fins 2; ventral 

 fins well developed, of about 7 rays each. 



Species of northern seas, and all highly valued as food. 



