MASTERS OF THE WATER-BONY FISHES 275 



and fall, it lays balloonlike eggs in pairs. These float and are colorless. These 

 floating eggs may be an aid to the dispersal of this sluggish fish. The young fall 

 immediately to the bottom on hatching. 



Similar Species: The "sculpin," Scorfaena guttata, is a West Coast form. It 

 grows to 15 inches and ranges from Baja California to Monterey. There are 

 many other similar species in all tropical seas. 



SKILFISHES: Family Anoplopomidae 

 This is a small North Pacific family. 



SKiLFiSH (sablefish): Anoflofoma fimhria 



Size: Up to 3 feet. Mostly much smaller. 



Distrihiition: San Diego to the Aleutians. 



Identification: The shape is long and slim and codlike. The spiny dorsal fin 

 is like that of greenlings but the soft dorsal is shorter and is reflected by the 

 anal in size and shape. There is a bony stay just under the skin below the eye. 

 The color is slaty above and white below. 



Habits: This is a common coast fish of the North Pacific. It is commonly sold 

 in markets and is delicious smoked. 



GREENLINGS: Family Hexagrammidae 



This is another strange group of the North Pacific, the evolutionary place of 

 which is not clear. The dorsal, and anal fins are very long, and there are usually 

 several lateral lines. The bony stay beneath the eye is present. The several species 

 are all tvpical of inshore waters where there is kelp and rock. They are 

 carnivorous on fishes and invertebrates. 



KELP GREENLiNG (sEA TROUT, ROCK trout) : Hexagrammos decagrammus 



Size: Up to IVi feet. 



Weight: Up to 2 to 4 pounds. 



Distribution: Point Conception north to Kodiak Island, Alaska. 



Identification: The male is bluish with brown mottlings. The female is 

 brownish with dark mottlings. There are five lateral lines on the sides and back. 



Habits: This is a fish of the rocks and kelp beds, which eats crustaceans 

 primarily. 



Fig. 153. Keif greenling. 



