ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 79 



W. N. Lockington read the following: 

 Remarks upon the various Fishes known as Rock Cod. 



BY W. N. LOCKINGTON. 



Probably the most abundant fish in our markets are those known as rock 

 cod. At least seventeen species are thus called, eleven of them belonging to 

 Cuvier's genus Sebastes, four to Ghiropsis, and those others to as many sepa- 

 rate genera. 



In 1854, and the subsequent years, as will be found by reference to the first 

 volume of the " Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences," the dis- 

 tinguished icthyologist, W. B. Ayres, described eight species of Sebastes, be- 

 sides a large number of other fishes — about sixty-eight in all. Of the eleven 

 species of Sebastes described by Ayre«and Girard, we have within these last 

 two months found in the markets all but three, viz: S. nigrocructus, Ayres; 8. 

 elongatus, Ayres; and S. ovalis, Ayres. The first of these, distinguished by 

 several black bands across its body, is well known to the fishermen; of the 

 second, which is characterized by its elongated body and light yellowish brown 

 color, with blackish brown spots, the Academy possesses a specimen; but I 

 have not yet seen the third, and Dr. Ayres himself states that it is rare. 



8. ruber. Ayres. This species attains a large size and a weight of from ten 

 to twelve pounds. It is of an almost uniform bright red, with a great abun- 

 dance of small accessory scales on the large ones. 



S. helvomaculatus. Ayres. This rosy-tinted fish may readily be distinguished 

 from S. ruber and S. rosaceus, not only by its much smaller dimensions, but 

 also by the row of three bright pink spots which adorn each flank. It does 

 not appear to exceed a foot in length. In the month of June^t was frequently 

 brought into our markets. 



S. rosaceus. Girard. About this species there is still some ambiguity, and 

 it is not unlikely that two distinct forms are confounded under this name. 

 The name was first applied by Girard to a large species of Sebastes figured in 

 the P. R. E. Kep., vol. x, pi. xxii, and incorrectly supposed by that naturalist 

 to be the same with the S. ruber of Ayres. Girard's figure is in many respects 

 faulty, and in his description he refers to an error in the form of the caudal 

 fin, which is drawn rounded, while in the fish it is sub-concave. The outline 

 figure given by Ayres at Pro. Cal. Acad., vol. ii, fig. 62, is more correct, but 

 Ayres gives no description. As I have lately had the advantage of handling 

 several specimens, I think it may be well to notice a few particulars, some of 

 which are not mentioned by Girard. The ventral fins are long and pointed, 

 nearly equaling the pectorals, and extending beyond the vent; the pectorals 

 also are long and pointed, the longest rays extending to within four scales of 



Proc. Cal. Acad. Sol, Vol. VII.— 6. 



