2 66 AMERICAN FISHES. 



The inexplicable name of " Fly-fish " is given to one species, Sebastich- 

 thys rhodochloris, by the fishermen at Monterey. Like the preceding, it is 

 known only from very deep water about Monterey and the Farallones. It 

 is one of the smallest species, rarely weighing more than a pound. 



The Corsair, Scbastichthys rosaccu's, is known to the Portuguese fisher- 

 men at Monterey by the name " Corsair," a name of uncertain application 

 transplanted from the Azores. It is one of the smallest species, rarely 

 weighing more than a pound and a half. It ranges from Santa Barbara 

 to San Francisco, in deep water, and where found, it is the most abund- 

 ant of the red species. When the weather permits outside fishing with 

 trawl-lines this is one of the most abundant species in the San Francisco 

 markets. It ranks high as a food-fish. 



The Spotted Corsair, Scbastichthys constellates, in size, distribution, 

 habits and value agrees with the " Corsair." It is, however, consider- 

 ably less abundant, although not a rare fish in the markets of San 

 Francisco. 



Two specimens only of the Yellow Rockfish, Scbastichthys umbrosus, are 

 known, both of which are from Santa Barbara. 



At Monterey, the Spanish-Flag, Scbastichthys rubricinctus, is known by 

 the very appropriate name of " Spanish Flag," from its broad bands of 

 red, white, and red. It reaches a weight of about six pounds. It is found 

 in very deep water on rocky reefs about Santa Barbara and Monterey. It 

 is perhaps the least common in the markets of all the species, except S. um- 

 brosus. In coloration it is the most brilliant fish on the coast. 



The Red Rockfish, Scbastichthys ruber, is usually the " Red Rockfish " 

 par excellence. At Monterey it evidently attains a weight of twelve or 

 more pounds, and is called by the Portuguese "Tambor." It ranges 

 from Santa Barbara to Puget Sound, its abundance increasing to the 

 northward. It lives in water of considerable depth. In the markets of 

 San Francisco it is one of the most common species. Large specimens 

 about Victoria, in the Straits of Fuca, had the skull above the brain 

 infected by an encysted parasite worm. Great numbers of them were 

 seen in the Straits of Fuca, according to Mr. Swan, swimming stupidly 

 near the surface, so torpid that the Indians killed them with clubs. 

 According to the Indians, they had been struck by the Thunder-bird, 

 which, with its companion, the Lightning-fish, causes many of the phe- 

 nomena in that region. The smaller specimens of this species rank well 

 as food-fishes ; the larger ones are likelv to be coarse or tough. 



