248 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



be easy to stock the rivers in Chili with salmon, as they are as suitable 

 as the rivers in this country. The temperature of the Chilian rivers is 

 generally from 40° to 50° F., and, with the exception of one or two, 

 all the rest, which exceed fifty, are of clear water, of gentle current, 

 and some of them have their origin in lakes of great extent, such as 

 Llanquihue, of 740, and Nahuelguapi, of 1,260 square kilometers. 



The fish of Chili worthy of being studied and brought to this coun- 

 try are the following : 



The Lisa [Mugil chilensis) is a fresh and salt water fish, resembles the 

 common mullet, is about 3 feet long, and its body is oval-shaped, cov- 

 ered with fine silvery scales, which give it a smooth aspect, hence the 

 origin of its name. Some of them weigh as much as 20 pounds. Its 

 flesh is white, tender, and juicy, and of so delicate a taste that I ven- 

 ture to assert that neither in this country nor in Europe have I ever 

 eaten any other superior to it. It is found in few places in Chili, the 

 principal being a small lake found on the Convento estate, about 85 

 miles from Valparaiso, and about the same distance from Santiago, 

 formed by the river Yaly at its entrance into the Pacific Ocean. The 

 waters of this lake are perfectly sweet in winter, and very brackish in 

 summer, and yet this fish lives in both seasons, as is proved from its 

 being caught all the year round. I am not acquainted with any details 

 respecting its reproduction and habits ; for that reason I think it would 

 be worthy of study on account of the importance of its flesh. 



Another fish of importance which lives exclusively in freshwater is the 

 Pejerey( Cyprinus regius), orkingfisk. Its ordinary length is aboutl foot, 

 and its weight from 1 to 2 poundjs. It has fine and silvery scales, like that 

 of the Lisa, and its flesh is fine and delicate. This fish is found in almost 

 all the Chilian rivers and lakes, but where it thrives best is in the lake 

 of Aculco, about 40 miles to the south of Santiago. # There some are 

 caught a foot and a half long, and more than 3 pounds in weight. 



Among the sea fish the Eobalo (Esox chilensis) is notable ; its flesh 

 is excellent, and it is found along the Southern Pacific coast as far as 

 Cape Horn. In some parts, as in Chiloe, it is found in such abundance 

 that the inhabitants of the coast dry and smoke it, and in this way 

 they carry on a very fair trade ; its length exceeds 3 feet. 



Another important sea fish is the Corvina (Spams chilensis), which 

 usually reaches feet in length, and is esteemed for its excellent flesh. 



Among shell-fish the Choro (3fytilas chorus) is worthy of note. It 

 inhabits the submarine rocks of the Island of Quinquina, opposite to 

 the port of Talcahuano. The length of its shell is generally about 7 

 inches, and its breadth 3£ ; its flesh is of a yellowish white color, very 

 savory and much esteemed in the country. 



Scientific details respecting these fish and shell-fish are probably to 

 be found in the Natural History of Chili, by C. Gay. 



Consulate-General of Chili, 



San Francisco, Gal., May 9, 1885. 



